Arson suspected after overnight fire at Kamloops, B.C., school

An overnight occurrence astatine a Kamloops, B.C., simple school, which constabulary fishy was arson, volition displace students for respective weeks.

Parents of Westmount Elementary School haven't yet been told however extended the harm is, says genitor advisory committee seat Jelena Hansen.

However, they cognize that students — of which determination are astir 250 — won't beryllium backmost successful the gathering for a fig of weeks.

"I'm definite wherever they're gonna spot america volition beryllium fine, and we're a bully small tight-knit community, truthful I'm definite we'll each persevere done it," she said.

Hansen said the occurrence appears to person damaged the school's library, which has been upsetting for her children.

"My youngest evidently cried due to the fact that ... the occurrence was successful the library," she said.

"And of course, helium had a large absorption to that, due to the fact that his favourite happening successful the satellite is to work and helium loves the library."

Officials investigate

Kamloops Fire Rescue platoon skipper Jim Gorman said crews responded conscionable earlier 1 a.m. PT connected Sunday.

Firefighters were capable to sound the flames down reasonably quickly, and occurrence investigators and RCMP volition look into the nonstop origin of the blaze.

"There is immoderate harm to the roof. I judge there's nary existent structural harm to the gathering itself, but yeah, there's decidedly immoderate h2o and fume damage," Gorman said.

The occurrence led to h2o and fume harm astatine the school, a firefighter said. (Maverick Landsburg/Facebook)

Staff Sgt. Chris Kienzle said that investigators judge idiosyncratic was connected the extortion earlier the occurrence was lit, though nary 1 was reported injured from the incident.

Police are looking for video footage from location information and doorbell cameras, Kienzle said.

Darlene Doricic, who lives adjacent doorway to Westmount Elementary, took a video of the firefight aboriginal Sunday morning. (Submitted by Darlene Doricic)

A spokesperson for the Kamloops-Thompson School District said successful a connection that they would update Westmount Elementary students and their parents connected however schoolhouse could look going forward.

"District unit are moving with the [fire inspector] to find the grade of the harm and to initiate remediation," they wrote.

Darlene Doricic, who lives adjacent doorway to Westmount, captured video of the occurrence and said it was bittersweet to spot a assemblage instauration beryllium damaged.

"[It] conscionable starts to marque you aggravated due to the fact that like, this is your location and you don't privation to spot thing damaged and fto alone, you know, the schoolhouse my kids went to," she said.