Sheppard and her kids used hoses to try and keep the fire from jumping to their property.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Kyle Sheppard
July 31, 2020 - 4:25 PM
Kamloops Fire Rescue is currently in the Rayleigh neighbourhood after three houses caught fire this afternoon.
According to a release, the fire started at one property and spread to a neighbouring house. Crews are working to take down the last of the flames. The cause of the fire is still undetermined.
Kamloops RCMP says while they were attending to the first two fires, another one was found.
"While on scene of those two residences, RCMP were alerted to a second residential fire approximately two blocks away," Cpl. Joseph Bayda said in a release. "Additional resources responded to that scene. All occupants related to both locations are accounted for. At this time it is undetermined if the two fires are related. RCMP are asking that the public avoid the area as the investigation unfolds."
Lesley Sheppard and her family were at home this afternoon when they noticed flames coming from their neighbour’s garage.
“We looked out our back window and we could see the flames,” Sheppard says.
She called 911 just before 2:20 p.m. but says the fire jumped to several other houses in the Aspen Park Drive and Beachview Road area. She believes crews have now taken control of the blaze, but she can still see some hotspots.
She says her property was at risk as it neighbours one of the affected homes.
“Our fence was smoking hot. I have four teens and young adults here and they were all out with hoses, we were spraying the grass so it wouldn’t spread,” Sheppard says.
She says her kids had run door to door to alert people of the fires, and believes no one was injured or trapped in any of the burning structures.
“I don’t believe anyone was home because my kids were banging on doors and no one answered,” Sheppard says. “One neighbour, my son spoke to. He had just gotten home and they were bringing their dog out, and now their dog is missing … people are walking around the neighbourhood looking for it.”
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
— This story was updated at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2020 to add information from Kamloops Fire Rescue.
— This story was updated at 5:03 p.m. July 31 to add information from Kamloops RCMP.
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