iN VIDEO: Penticton dumpster fire destroys two nearby cars

A fire that started in a dumpster in Penticton yesterday had already spread to hedges and two vehicles by the time emergency crews could respond.

The fire was started in a dumpster at approximately 7:15 to 7:20 p.m. yesterday, April 19, according to Kaylee Lowey, who witnessed some of the event.

Lowey lives at the address in the 700 block of Government Street where emergency crews responded, although the incident occurred at the rear of the property closer to Ontario Street.

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Around 6:30 p.m. she said her mother opened a gated area to throw out some trash, noticed a bicycle inside, and then saw a man wearing a red cap stand up.

“Then (at about 7 p.m.) I went down to do my garbage, and I saw the bike but the man wasn't there,” Lowey said. “About 20 minutes later after I left, my mom calls me to tell me there’s a fire in our dumpster.”

Lowey then returned home and spoke with police about what she witnessed.

READ MORE: Man facing charges for allegedly setting several dumpster, trash can fires in Summerland

The fire destroyed the recycling bins and a dumpster belonging to the complex, she said, and spread to two nearby vehicles which were destroyed.

Lowey said the Honda Pilot that can be seen burning in the video belonged to a friend of her neighbour’s who was keeping it parked there.

Penticton RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Dayne Lyons said in an emailed statement police and firefighters responded to a report of a dumpster fire. He said the fire spread to nearby hedges as well as two vehicles that were parked close by, which were destroyed.

“A witness did observe who they thought to be a suspect inside the complex,” Cpl. Lyons said in the statement. “Police made extensive patrols of the area with negative results and canvassed the neighbourhood for video surveillance, but the suspect had already taken off and the video cameras did not yield a result.”

READ MORE: Man sleeping in dumpster crushed in Penticton recycling truck

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