UPDATE: Man tries to smoke actual grass, sparks fire in Peterson Creek Park

KAMLOOPS – The small fire that burned briefly in Peterson Creek Park this afternoon was sparked by someone trying to smoke grass, literally.

After firefighters were called out to the interface area today around noon, they determined it was caused by a man in a wheelchair being careless with fire. He was trying to smoke the grass growing in the park, says John Ramsay with Kamloops Bylaw.

Ramsay says firefighters and a bylaw officer worked together to remove the man from the area. 

Officials offered the man help, but he wasn't interested.

"We were trying to get support services for him. We tried to offer resources from ASK Wellness, but he declined," Ramsay says.

The man was not in a homeless camp. Ramsay is not sure if there will be charges recommended following the incident. 

– This story was updated at 5:10 p.m. on June 22, 2017 to include information from John Ramsay. 

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