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Arsonists suspected

A suspicious fire Saturday has been turned over to Salmon Arm RCMP for investigation.

A suspicious fire Saturday has been turned over to Salmon Arm RCMP for investigation.

At 10:40 a.m. on Aug. 3, Salmon Arm Fire Department halls 2 and 3 responded to a fire at the site of townhouses under construction in the 2700 block of 15th Avenue NE near Hillside Village.

The fire was set in a town home that was nearing lock-up stage , says assistant fire chief Jim Nickles.

“Someone from Trademark Plumbing noticed the fire and hit it with a garden hose before our crews got there,” he says, noting firefighters took over and were on scene for about two hours.

“The fella from the plumbing company did a great job knocking it down.”

Nickles says the fire department was extremely lucky considering current dry conditions in Salmon Arm, and the fact the unit had open studs without drywall or fire separations yet.

“The damage is basically to the stairwell and slower floor trusses, but it could have really taken off,” he said, noting that a witness had seen people in the area, so it has been handed over to the RCMP as suspicious.

An Aug. 6 RCMP news release confirms the fire caused thousands of dollars in damage and requests “the assistance of the public in identifying any potential suspects.”