UPDATE: Firefighters extinguish fast-moving grass fire behind Sahali apartment

KAMLOOPS — Firefighters were quick to respond to a grass fire that started accidentally because of 'lighter trick' near Sa-Hali Secondary School this evening.

Kamloops Fire Rescue Platoon Capt. Darryl Cooper says approximately ten firefighters attended to grass fire call today, June 2, at a field between Sa-Hali Secondary School and the Viscount Villa apartments.

Cooper says according to witnesses the grass fire was started accidentally by an individual playing with a lighter.

"Sounds like it was accidental, they were trying to do a lighter trick and [it] accidentally fell in some cottonwood fluff and that's what caused a spot fire and the wind carried it," Cooper says.

The call came in around 8 p.m. and it took fire crews roughly an hour and half to put out.

"It could have been tragic," Cooper says, adding flames got up to two-feet high.

A witness says apartment residents came together to put out the fire with garden hoses before fire crews arrived on scene.

"We arrived on scene and residents were keeping the fire in check with garden hoses," he says. "A big thank you to the residents."

—With files from Jenna Wheeler

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