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| Photo: Daniel Hayduk |
CastanetAn arson spree kept firefighters in the North Okanagan busy Friday afternoon. Members of the Coldstream Fire Department were called to reports of a fire at Okanagan College shortly after 1 p.m., December 24. A garbage bin next to the cafeteria area of the college had been ignited and the fire was extending into the wall. Fire Chief Leo Lecavalier says much of the fire was extinguished by a security guard before crews arrived, but some damage had already been done. In addition to the damaged wall, "there was smoke damage," says Lecavalier. The fire appeared suspicious, and the RCMP were asked to attend the scene. Lecavalier says as his crew was ensuring the fire was out, he received reports of hay bales on fire on Pointe Sage Drive. The hay bales turned out to be straw wattle, used in hillside erosion control. As firefighters made their way to Pointe Sage Drive, they noticed a debris pile next to the railway tracks on Kalamalka Road was also on fire. Lecavalier says firefighters were able to extinguish both fires, but noted it would have been a lot more difficult in the summer. Damage to the college and replacement cost of the wattle are both believed to be in the thousands of dollars. RCMP are investigating the incident.
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