Kamloops: Arson suspected in Red Bridge fire
By Lone Sheep Publishing
Police are seeking information from the pubic related to yesterday’s fire that destroyed the Red Bridge and is being investigated as arson.
On Thursday Sept. 19, 2024, around 3:25 a.m., Kamloops and Tk’emlúps Rural RCMP Detachment frontline officers were called to assist Kamloops Fire and Rescue (KFR) at the Red Bridge, which was fully engulfed by flames. While fire responders battled the blaze, the bridge collapsed and was sadly completely destroyed.
“The investigation is still in its very early stages, but we do believe the Red Bridge was intentionally set on fire and we are treating it as arson, based on the information and evidence reviewed so far,” said Superintendent Jeff Pelley, the Kamloops RCMP Detachment’s Officer in Charge. “The Red Bridge was an important and historic part of our community’s infrastructure; it is extremely disheartening to think that it was purposely destroyed. As our police officers work in partnership with KFR in advancing this investigation, we ask the public to please reach out with any information that may be related.”
Thursday’s fire was the second at the Red Bridge in as many days, with the first reported on Tuesday Sept. 17, 2024, around 6:45 a.m. Whether or not they are related is part of the ongoing investigation.
In addition to checking security and dash camera footage, police are asking the community to please report anything suspicious they may have observed in or around the waterways and shoreline on the days leading up to the fire.
“You may have observed something that seemed out of place or stood out, which could now be relevant to advancing our investigation into what is believed to have been a criminal act,” added Supt. Pelley. “It’s very important that anyone in the community who has any information which could be related to the Red Bridge fire, please share it with police as soon as possible.”
The investigation is ongoing with the support of the General Investigations Support Team, Forensic Identification Unit, fire investigators, KFR, and frontline officers from both the Kamloops city and Tk’emlúps Rural detachments.
Anyone who witnessed, has video, or information related is asked to please contact the Kamloops RCMP Detachment at 250-828-3000 or Tk’emlúps Rural RCMP Detachment at 250-314-1800 and reference file 2024-31206.
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