Torched SUV located at Tru Market Auto (Image Credit: CFJC News)

By Sydney Chisholm

victoria street west

‘We’ve got a lot of other issues to deal with’; Kamloops mayor refuses to move burned-out vehicle

Dec 13, 2023 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — A twice-torched SUV has been sitting at Tru Market Auto on Victoria Street West for over a year.

On Monday (Dec. 11), Kamloops Fire Rescue (KFR) deemed it a fire hazard and Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson, the owner of the property, was issued an order to move the vehicle.

“This vehicle here is just one of many that I used to have, like 30 or 40 vehicles on the lot, and people would break into them, steal them, live in them,” explained Hamer-Jackson.

The burned-out vehicle was first set ablaze last year, around the same time Hamer-Jackson was elected mayor. The second fire was set earlier this year, in October.

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Earlier this week, Hamer-Jackson gave KFR Chief Ken Uzeloc a tour of the property. The tour ended with Uzeloc issuing an order for the vehicle to be removed.

“Given the fact that there’s been two fires already and it seems to be attracting [people to it], I’ve deemed it a fire hazard and have ordered it to be removed [by] the property owner,” Uzeloc told CFJC News.

Prior to the order, the burnt vehicle was tarped several times and each time, Hamer-Jackson says his tarps were stolen.

The mayor was given 48 hours to remove the vehicle from his property before it would be towed and the bill sent his way.

“I don’t think that that’s the problem in our city. I think we’ve got a lot of other issues to deal with and like I said, I should be able to keep that,” said Hamer-Jackson.

The mayor has decided to take a stand, saying he won’t be removing the vehicle and implores the fire chief to address the real problem.

“Trespassing, stealing, lighting fires is against the law,” he said. “Until we start to deal with the issues, we’re going to keep – and again, I should be able to have 40 cars on my car lot. I’ve got one and it’s the fire hazard in Kamloops?”

Uzeloc says it doesn’t matter who burned the vehicle, it is KFR’s job to identify fire hazards and the SUV needs to be taken off the property.

“I fully understand that it’s not the property owner who is starting the fires. I understand that it’s not the property owner who is trying to use it for shelter,” said Uzeloc. “But the way that the Fire Safety Act, the way that the bylaws and the codes are referenced, it is the property owner’s responsibility.”

Many properties on West Victoria Street have seen their fair share of fires, but Hamer-Jackson believes his property is the only one being singled out by KFR.

“Do I feel targeted? I think we could go to a Grade 3 class and ask them that,” said Hamer-Jackson.

On the other hand, Uzeloc says everyone, even the mayor, should be held to the same standard when it comes to fire safety.

“I am treating this the same way that I would treat it if this occurred on anybody else’s property or any other business’ location,” Uzeloc said. “In fact, we’ve had other fires. People are required to secure property after a fire or remove the hazards, and that’s what we’re enforcing in this circumstance. I’m basically treating this property owner the same as I would treat any other property owner in the city.”

At our deadline, the vehicle remained on the property. As of Wednesday afternoon, the City of Kamloops has the authority to tow the vehicle.

According to Uzeloc, once it’s towed, the SUV will be held for a reasonable amount of time so Hamer-Jackson can pick it up before it is disposed of. All costs associated with towing, storing and disposing of the vehicle will be added to the property tax bill for Hamer-Jackson’s West Victoria Street property.