Firefighters alerted a man that his Westsyde home was ablaze and he was able to escape the building unscathed early Monday morning (Sept. 18).
About 14 firefighters responded to a house fire in the 900-block of Ida Lane just before 1 a.m.
Kamloops Fire Rescue platoon Capt. Will Harlock told KTW the fire appears to have started at the back of the house, but it is not clear whether it started inside or outside the home.
Harlock said the house was not completely gutted by the fire, but noted there was “extensive damage” to the rear of the structure.
Harlock said the man was the lone person in the house at the time, noting he was removed from the basement without injury. Harlock said the man left under his own power after firefighters entered the home.
“The person that was inside didn’t know what was going on,” Harlock said. “The crew that went inside found the victim and was able to bring him out safely.”
Harlock said the man was examined by paramedics at the scene.
“No smoke inhalation or anything like that,” Harlock said.
Firefighters cleared the scene just after 5 a.m. and fire investigators remain on the property as they investigate the cause of the blaze.
“Hopefully, we’ll find out [the cause] within the next day or two,” Harlock said, adding that the fire is not currently considered suspicious.
KFR is reminding residents to ensure their smoking materials are extinguished using a proper ashtray, noting as fall begins and people spend more time indoors, it is important to ensure combustible materials are not stored top against homes.
Even with recent rain, Harlock said, conditions in Kamloops are still dry as the region remains mired in a drought with the most extreme classification.
