Lower Sahali business owners frustrated after ‘costly’ Wednesday morning fire

Apr 10, 2026 | 5:09 PM

KAMLOOPS — An early Wednesday (April 8) morning fire at a Lower Sahali business caused about $60,000 in damage, despite the quick work on Kamloops Fire Rescue (KFR) crews.

In a post to social media, Windsor Plywood Kamloops said it was told about the fire at its location on Laval Crescent, which destroyed lost 14 lifts of lumber.

“The alarm went off at about 2:30 in the morning. We checked the cameras and sadly, we saw a guy walking across the back parking lot here,” owner Susan Firman said. “From what we could tell, it looked like he had left, and about 15 minutes later, the alarm went off again, and our phones were ringing. That’s when I shot straight up out of bed and went something’s up.”

Firman says the camera notifies them every time a person trespasses onto their property. It happens more often than she would like to admit.

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“I don’t know what the solution is, honestly,” Firman added. “There were other businesses hit that night on Laval. There were a few for sure that had windows smashed, vehicles broken into, tools stolen, and it just causes havoc. I just don’t know if it’s a city thing, a provincial thing, or a federal thing, or if it’s a combination of all three.”

“I certainly don’t have those answers, but I do think it would be nice for this to stop.”

Speaking to CFJC Today, KFR Platoon Chief Joe McKinnon confirmed that pallets were burning in the yard behind the Windsor Plywood location. While the fire was caused by humans, McKinnon said there was no indication if the fire was a result of arson.

McKinnon added that KFR hasn’t received recent reports of a fire bug or other similar instances in the area.

No injuries were reported from the fire, and KFR said the damage was isolated to the pallets.

– With files from Aaron Schulze/CFJC Today

by Anthony Corea

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Lower Sahali business owners frustrated after ‘costly’ Wednesday morning fire

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