Motorist stops to help put out grassfire on Columbia Street

Jul 26, 2018 | 6:11 PM

KAMLOOPS — Motorists got a scare this afternoon driving up Columbia Street, as a grassfire flared up just up from First Avenue. 

The fire started around 3 p.m. on the side of the road on Columbia Street across from Sahali Terrace. Andrew Sadegur saw the flames and quickly pulled over to call in the fire, also taking water from the back of his truck to douse the fire as best he could. Kamloops Fire Rescue arrived minutes later to fully put it out.

“I saw jsut some flames going on the side of the bush and just wanted to help, and as quickly as I could pulled over, grabbed one of my tanks for water and just started putting down water on the side,” says Sadegur.  

He says the grassfire took off once it hit the sage brush, and the situation could’ve been much worse with homes right below. 

“As soon as it hit the sagebrush, it just exploded and if it wasn’t for the others, I think it would’ve been a lot worse,” he notes. “We just about had it under control and the fire department showed up in fast time.”

The small grassfire is a reminder of how quickly the fuels are drying out with a stretch of hot temperatures.