Man charged in connection with Kamloops arson fires

North Kamloops neighbours doused two human-caused fires with garden hoses last weekend before one man was arrested for arson.

A fence and a garbage can were damaged in two alleyway fires on April 30, with one between Lethbridge and Sherbrook avenues and the other between 10 and 11 streets, according to a Kamloops RCMP news release.

Kamloops Fire Rescue responded to the fires as neighbours sprayed them with garden hoses before they arrived.

Police didn't say when the fires started, but officers were called to the scene around 6:45 p.m. and arrested a suspect on Selkirk Avenue, according to the news release.

“He was held in custody for a bail hearing Monday evening and remanded until his next court appearance, scheduled for today," Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Crystal Evelyn said.

Owen Lee Coty, 26, is facing two arson charges, according to police.

The two alleged arsons follow several suspicious fires last month. Police did not say Coty is connected to the previous fires, nor mention updates related to those investigations.

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