Devastating Upper Sahali house fire began in grass next to the property: KFR

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops Fire Rescue investigators say a fire that gutted an Upper Sahali home Thursday (April 27) started in the nearby grass.

The fiery blaze began at about 2:00 p.m., tearing through a home in the 300-block of Gleneagles Drive.

KFR Chief Ken Uzeloc says while the exact cause is not yet clear, the fire began beside a nearby walking trail.

“It appears that it started in the grass area adjacent to the walkway and then very quickly spread to the cedars, which we know burn significantly fast,” Uzeloc told CFJC Today. “[The fire] burned up the cedars and then into the attic and roof of the home.”

Investigators are still combing over evidence and are asking for doorbell video footage from nearby homes. Uzeloc says the fire is being treated as suspicious, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it was set intentionally.

“Just because a fire is suspicious doesn’t mean it was intentionally set,” said Uzeloc. “It could have been a cigarette or smoking material, it could have been a piece of glass with the dry [conditions] and the heat we’re seeing — or it could have been person caused. The investigators are looking at different hypotheses and looking to rule those out.”

Though the fire spread quickly through the grass, a cedar hedge lining one side of the house was key in quickly moving the flames from the ground to the home’s roof and attic.

“The last few years, you’ve heard our life safety educator speak a lot about the danger of cedars,” said Uzeloc. “They do stay very dry and when fire hits them, it just takes off. Not only our cedars not a great choice for your landscaping, but also the fact of making sure that your landscaping isn’t right up against your home.”

Grasses and other fine fuels are still very dry in the Kamloops area. With heat and wind expected over the weekend, Uzeloc says it’s important people act responsibly.

“We’re asking citizens to be vigilant and really be careful with their actions and behaviours, trying to be fire-safe when they’re out and about, not only in the natural spaces and beautiful parks around our city but even around your homes,” he said.