KFR evicts tenants on West Seymour Street after fearing fatal ending to numerous fire code violations

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops fire chief Ken Uzeloc feared the worst on West Seymour Street, where there were numerous fire code violations.

“My biggest fear is we were going to have a fire in one of those rooms where we didn’t have alarms or early-warning devices and we were going to end up with a multi-fatality fire in that building.”

Uzeloc says shutting down the housing unit at 91 West Seymour Street was a last resort, but he notes it was only a matter of time before something tragic happened.

“We found smoke alarms and heat detectors that were not activated, which means they’re not warning the overall fire alarm system so that other tenants could be alerted if something happen,” he said. “We found exposed electrical wires where you could see in some suites where they had been arcking and burning into the roofing material.”

Uzeloc also noted fire inspectors found a propane tank next to the hot water tank, which could’ve been lethal.

“There was evidence of people living in the basement mechanical, electrical room with lots of debris, combustibles,” he said.

The investigation all started in May when KFR received a complaint from a neighbouring resident. An inspector attended the two-storey, 20-unit building and started looking more deeply into the problems.

There was a fire in one of the rooms in June and clean-up orders given out that were manageable, but when Kamloops Fire Rescue returned last Friday (Oct. 14), the conditions had worsened.

“And we made the decision that we needed to get into each individual room and dwelling suite because we were being advised by tenants and the owner that the alarm system was compromised because what was happening in some of the individual suites,” noted Uzeloc.

KFR gave tenants until Thursday evening at five to leave the building. However, many of the tenants are still hanging around, setting up camp with nowhere to go.

Evicted tenants are setting up camp outside the building at 91 West Seymour Street (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

“We thought we were finally off the street after two years,” said Sheila McKenzie, a tenant in the building. “I don’t know what we’re going to do. All the shelters are full.”

According to KFR and Community Services Officers, most of the tenants, those who were staying there legally, are being housed in hotels by the owner, who lives in Vancouver.

McKenzie paid rent but wasn’t staying there legally, so won’t be providing alternate housing. Living in the building for the last month, she felt so lucky.

“It’s just heartbreaking because it was nice to be off the streets finally after so long,” she said. “We thought we had a home. It was nice. Everybody got along. We were like one big family, and it was just ripped away.”

The Mustard Seed and other social agencies are helping the people, but the fire department couldn’t stand by and let the building keep operating.

“That’s a last resort for us to have to put people out, especially if not all people are being looked after,” said Uzeloc. “But it wasn’t a matter of if, it was when.”