Kamloops man faces charges following Columbia Street grassfire

A 32-year-old Kamloops man is facing mischief charges following a grassfire last week along Columbia Street.

Kamloops RCMP responded to Columbia Street and 1 Avenue around 9 p.m., Aug. 12, where a man was fighting with an off-duty police officer, according to an RCMP press release.

The off-duty came upon a driver who had left their vehicle to pour water on flames along Columbia Street and pointed to a person believed to have started the fire, then walking down the road.

“Thanks to the quick actions of the public the fire was extinguished before it could spread and grow into something much more substantial than what was described as a campfire in size,” Const. Crystal Evelyn, Kamloops RCMP spokesperson, said in the release.

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The off-duty officer placed the man under arrest before backup arrived to bring him into custody.

“And thanks to the off-duty police officer, a suspect was promptly arrested and remains in custody for the time being," Evelyn said.

Wyatt Alcide Proulx, 32, is facing charges for mischief and obstruction of a police officer. He remains in custody with a court appearance upcoming on Tuesday afternoon.

The Thursday evening fire follows two previous grassfires along Columbia Street West which were quickly found and extinguished, but Evelyn said that pair of grassfires were unrelated. She added that the Aug. 11 fires remain under investigation and there is a suspect identified, but no arrests have been made. 

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Anyone who witnessed or has information related to the incident can contact Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000.

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