Skip to content

Fire crews put out abandoned campfire

Fire lit and then left in Salmon Arm despite dangerous conditions.
web1_20170710-SAA-Smoke-JE-0012
Skies are smoky this morning, but not because of a fire in Salmon Arm. - Image credit: Jim Elliot/Salmon Arm Observer.

Despite the provincial state of emergency, high temperatures and hundreds of wildfires in B.C., someone appears to have abandoned a campfire near the industrial park in Salmon Arm yesterday.

Salmon Arm Fire Chief Brad Shirley reports that the Salmon Arm Fire Department was called out Sunday night to investigate a report of smoke at the end of 40th Street SE.

“It was quite far into the forest so we notified BC Wildfire immediately. We assisted them in locating the fire.”

Shirley said they found the fire about 11:30 last night, fairly close to a trail where lots of people ride quads and dirt bikes. It was about five metres by five metres.

“It appeared to be an abandoned campfire. It’s very frustrating.”

He said this morning that forestry crews were not expecting to have any trouble extinguishing it and he has not heard otherwise.

“As far as I know it’s out and well looked after.”

Meanwhile, he says it’s very upsetting to find a campfire in these conditions.

“Fortunately it was at night and the winds were calm. It certainly had the potential to be a very devastating fire.”

Shirley wants people to remember that not only is there the devastation of a fire to consider, but if someone is found responsible, the consequences are substantial. He points out the offender can potentially have to pay for the costs of fighting the fire, which can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.



Martha Wickett

About the Author: Martha Wickett

came to Salmon Arm in May of 2004 to work at the Observer. I was looking for a change from the hustle and bustle of the Lower Mainland, where I had spent more than a decade working in community newspapers.
Read more