UPDATE: Arson suspected in recent Kamloops grassfires

Rain is a welcome reprieve this morning as Kamloops firefighters extinguished two grassfires — now suspected to be caused by arson — within hours of each other, a day earlier.

On July 8, a West End park went up in flames for the second time in less than two weeks. This morning, July 9, police said it was likely arson.

“We are treating this incident as suspicious and have identified a person of interest in relation to this fire,” Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Dana Napier said in a July 9 news release.

Police are also investigating whether the fire is connected to any of the previous grassfires, but photos posted to social media Tuesday suggest a man was seen leaving the scene just as the Strathcona fire started.

A man walks away from a grassfire on a hillside.
A man was seen leaving the hillside fire at Strathcona Park on July 8, according to social media posts. (FACEBOOK/Qyntine Primeau)

iNFOnews.ca hasn’t been able to reach the person who posted the photos. Kamloops Fire Rescue has not responded to requests for comment on Wednesday.

The fire was knocked down quickly, but firefighters responded to a riverside fire in the Dallas neighbourhood later the same day, several kilometres away from the downtown park.

The two blazes follow three others. The last Strathcona Park fire was June 27, while a Rose Hill area fire lit up July 6 and another at Peterson Creek approached Royal Inland Hospital before it was knocked down June 26. Police did not say whether the other fires are believed to be intentionally set.

— This story was updated with information from Kamloops RCMP at 10:43 a.m., July 9, 2025.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

Levi Landry

Levi is a recent graduate of the Communications, Culture, & Journalism program at Okanagan College and is now based in Kamloops. After living in the BC for over four years, he finds the blue collar and neighbourly environment in the Thompson reminds him of home in Saskatchewan. Levi, who has previously been published in Kelowna’s Daily Courier, is passionate about stories focussed on both social issues and peoples’ experiences in their local community. If you have a story or tips to share, you can reach Levi at 250 819 3723 or email LLandry@infonews.ca.