British Columbia

Makeshift dwelling for homeless destroyed by fire

Fire crews were called to an old concrete bunker in Kamloops, B.C., early Tuesday morning which homeless people were using for shelter.

Kamloops Fire Rescue team extinguishes early morning blaze in concrete bunker

Kamloops Fire Rescue believes homeless people were using an old bunker for shelter. (Brendan Kergin)

Kamloops Fire Rescue says homeless people likely caused a fire in an old bunker in Kamloops, B.C. early Tuesday morning.

Fire crews were called to West Seymour Street in downtown Kamloops at 3:25 a.m. on Jan. 23 in response to reports of a fire burning in an old, unused concrete bunker.  

The contents of a bunker on West Seymour Street in Kamloops were burned in a fire on Tuesday morning. (Brendan Kergin)

Kamloops Fire Rescue platoon Capt. Rob Chalmers said it appeared the bunker —  formerly part of a concrete plant — was providing shelter for homeless people. Belongings inside were destroyed by the fire.

No injuries were reported as a result of the fire according to Chalmers. 

The bunker where a fire occurred Jan. 23 is visible only from the streets below. (Brendan Kergin)