Firefighters and Transportation Ministry crew can do little but wait as the Red Bridge blaze burns out on Sept. 19, 2024.

(LEVI LANDRY / iNFOnews.ca)

One of the four bridges in Kamloops collapsed in a fiery heap Thursday morning days after it was damaged by a smaller fire.

The Red Bridge, connecting Lorne Street to the Tk'emlups Mount Paul Industrial Park, was fully ablaze by the time firefighters got to the scene just after 3 a.m., Sept. 19.

Kamloops Fire Rescue platoon captain Norm Little said the first of three spans fell around 3:18 a.m., within minutes of their arrival. No one was injured. 

He said it was initially called in as a landscape fire, but crews found it was restricted to just the bridge, which was "fully involved" when they got to the base of the bridge.

Hours later, firefighters and Ministry of Transportation crews were on the Pioneer Park beach, unable to do much beyond watch the fire burn out.

The bridge is seen fully engulfed after the first of three spans fell early Thursday morning, Sept. 19, 2024.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Nathan Ritchie

The first of three spans fell around 3:18 a.m., just minutes after firefighters got to the scene.

(LEVI LANDRY / iNFOnews.ca)

It comes days after a smaller fire damaged its under side on the Tk'emlups side of the bridge. There were signs of a camp underneath and on Wednesday Kamloops RCMP would not confirm whether it was suspected to be arson. With two fires in a week, police now say it's "suspicious."

“We are treating the incident as suspicious and note that this is the second fire to occur at the bridge in as many days,” said Supt. Jeff Pelley of Kamloops RCMP.

Police are pleading for witnesses to come forward.

A man who was at the park around 6:30 a.m. to see the damage approached a police officer at the scene with what appeared to be evidence.

A jerry can was spotted near the boat launch, not far from the bridge. It's not clear whether it will be related to the fire investigation.

(LEVI LANDRY / iNFOnews.ca)

The man, who wouldn't provide his name to iNFOnews.ca, said he and his family spotted a man holding a jerry can watching the fire. He also led iNFOnews.ca to a jerry can and what appears to be a dirt bike helmet near the boat launch, roughly 200 metres from the base of the bridge.

"Arsonists watch their handiwork," he said after attempting to alert police to the jerry can left behind. The potentially suspicious man had left.

The province sent an engineer to inspect the bridge Wednesday morning before it was reopened to traffic. The assessment found the bridge's support beams weren't compromised and the bridge was safe to use. At the time, the transportation ministry had no plans to replace the bridge, but a team was working on a long-term plan to rehabilitate the bridge.

It's not known if or when the bridge might be replaced.

There were signs of a camp where the previous fire closed the bridge on Tuesday morning. It was reopened the next day, Sept. 18.

(LEVI LANDRY / iNFOnews.ca)

The public is warned to stay clear of the river and boat launches have been closed due to burning debris now floating down the river.

"This is a tremendously sad day for Kamloops and those who loved the Red Bridge," deputy mayor and city councillor Stephen Karpuk said in a news release.

Councillors, currently at a local government convention in Vancouver, are attempting to schedule an emergency meeting with Transportation Minister Rob Fleming.

"The impact will be felt immediately, both emotionally and physically. We ask for patience and calm as we process the events and determine the path forward. Our hearts and hands go out to our friends and neighbours at Tk?emlúps te Secwépemc as well. Patience and reflection, kindness, and hope are the virtues we need today. We will get through this," Karpuk said. 

To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.

News from © iNFOnews, 2024