For the second time this week, Kamloops crews are responding to fires after a lighting storm passed through the region.
The roof of a home in Batchelor Heights was hit by lightning, and a small fire that started has now been put out.
“I was standing on my front porch watching the storm and there was a very close, very powerful lightning bolt,” said Alex Dunsmore, who witnessed the strike. “Neighbours I guess ran hoses across the way, just in case there was a fire.”
“I never actually didn’t see smoke myself, but they had a concern with the roof out there.”
Kamloops Fire Assistant Chief Steve Robinson says crews are at the scene of two fires, one out by Lac Du Bois Road near Batchelor Heights, and another at the Barnhartvale dump.
“It appears the storm is winding down and we’re starting to get some of our crews back,” Robinson said.
BC Wildfire personnel are assisting with the call at Lac Du Bois. They’re calling it the Tranquille Creek fire, and it’s currently estimated at 0.01 hectares.
Also at 0.01 hectares are two other fires near Kamloops, one called the Harper Ranch Road fire, on the north side of the river near Dallas, and the Robbins Creek fire, north-west of Monte Lake
Robinson notes crews also responded to the possible house on fire in Batchelor Heights, but says there was no fire visible when they got there.
Several people took to social media to report lightning strikes across the city. There were no major power outages in Kamloops due to this storm but a few areas near Merritt and outside the city are without power at this time.
The storm also caused a delay at the Kamloops Broncos game at Hillside Stadium. That game has since resumed.
NL News will update this story as more information becomes available.
(Photo via Curt Appleby)
– With files from Colton Davies and Brett Mineer
WATCH: Lightning strikes telephone pole metres from Valleyview man. Sent in by Ryan Favali. #Kamloops #bcstorm #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/Kyqk6nCozn
— Brett Mineer (@MineerBrett) September 8, 2019
A home in Batchelor Heights was hit by lightning-#42 at 900 Stagecoach Dr. The roof was hit, and a small fire that started has now been put out. @KamFire leaving scene. Neighbours say they got out garden hoses to douse the fire before Fire Dept arrived. @RadioNLNews #Kamloops pic.twitter.com/pQakJcJ0CX
— Colton Davies (@ColtonDavies_) September 8, 2019
#Breaking: @KamFire is heading to a new blaze near Batchelor Heights this hour. Photo taken by NL News content producer @CApps32. More to come. #Kamloops pic.twitter.com/t6WU478VQ2
— RadioNLNews (@RadioNLNews) September 8, 2019
BREAKING NEWS: Lightning has tipped off at least two grassfires in the #Kamloops area. pic.twitter.com/7EcMAJe8Gl
— Brett Mineer (@MineerBrett) September 8, 2019
Here is the strike, watched it blow up transformer pic.twitter.com/PqQfiLLZFM
— Mike O’Reilly (@mikeoreilly2018) September 8, 2019
Lightning strikes in the last 25 minutes in #Kamloops Red is in the last 20 mins. Yellow is older. pic.twitter.com/dTuGoGebkQ
— Brett Mineer (@MineerBrett) September 8, 2019
.@BCGovFireInfo lists three spot fires near #Kamloops after lightning storm. pic.twitter.com/jmLz0YZbG7
— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) September 8, 2019