Kamloops fire chief says majority of recent interface fires caused by ‘campfires or cooking fires’

“It was very evident to be a cooking fire with remnants of a fire-in-a-can-style device with some hot dog sticks down there.”

Crews from Kamloops Fire Rescue (KFR) as well as BC Wildfire Service made quick work of the Peterson Creek fire, which sparked around 5:40 p.m. on June 26, and was classified as being about two hours later.

While the fire was in close proximity to Royal Inland Hospital and the Glenfair seniors complex, no structures were threated and it was brought under control the next day, June 27.

Uzeloc’s comments Thursday were in response to a question from Councillor Katie Neustaeter, who asked about the recent “rash of concerning interface fires” over the past several weeks.

All of those fires were suspected to be human-caused, and Uzeloc said evidence of encampments was found near two fires – one in Kenna Cartwright Park in May and the other along the South Thompson riverbank in Dallas in July.

“At the other ones, there was no particular evidence of an encampment in place,” Uzeloc said.

“No tents, no structures, no cardboard, no remnants of an encampment, but they were very evident of a campfire, or in a couple of cases, cooking fire, where there were remnants of cooking materials into a pit that had been used.”

At least one other fire — in Strathcona Park on July 8 — is being investigated by the RCMP as arson. While there have been several other fires in Strathcona Park and elsewhere in Kamloops, Uzeloc said it is difficult to always pinpoint a cause if there are no witnesses.

“We pinpoint back to the best possible hypothesis,” Uzeloc said.

Uzeloc’s comments at the committee meeting came a few hours before crews were called to another small-but-notable interface in Kenna Cartwright Park. While KFR has said that the fire is likely human-caused, it is still being investigated.

No fires allowed within city limits

Speaking to CFJC Today, Uzeloc said that campfires or cooking fires are not permitted within Kamloops city limits, with no exceptions made for anyone. He said if people spot such a fire, they should call it in so firefighters can respond.

“If required, we will reach out to Community Services or the RCMP to attend with us,” Uzeloc said. “If it’s deliberate and it’s non-complaint with our bylaws, then we’ll enforce the bylaw.”

“Obviously, there are people on the streets trying to survive and they don’t have a place to go and we’re cognizant of that but the same rules of no fires apply to them as well.”

According to Neustaeter, city council is currently looking at areas where overnight camping is permitted “in collaboration with ‘community invested partners.'”

“I think it’s a very valuable part of the conversation,” she said at Thursday’s meeting. “Both council and city staff are not indifferent or unconcerned or unaware of these things that significantly impact our community. Those fires are really scary. They were close to homes and with the experiences we’ve all had in B.C., there is legitimate concern there.”

“I think it’s important for the community to hear these conversations are happening and how we can mitigate these things is certainly top of mind.”

by Victor Kaisar

Kamloops fire chief says majority of recent interface fires caused by ‘campfires or cooking fires’

No fires allowed within city limits

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