RED BRIDGE – Fire that destroyed iconic heritage crossing is now officially arson
(Image: Mel Rothenburger)
The fire that destroyed the Red Bridge yesterday (Sept. 19, 2024) is now officially considered an arson. Officials had initially labeled it “suspicious.”
It’s believed the fire was started around 3 a.m. Kamloops Fire Rescue responded but the bridge was quickly and fully engulfed by flames. Around 3:25 a.m., Kamloops and Tk’emlúps Rural RCMP detachment officers were called to assist the KFR. As fire responders battled the blaze, the bridge collapsed.
“The investigation is still in its very early stages, but we do believe the Red Bridge was intentionally set on fire and we are treating it as arson, based on the information and evidence reviewed so far,” said Supt. Jeff Pelley, the Kamloops RCMP detachment’s officer in charge.
“The Red Bridge was an important and historic part of our community’s infrastructure; it is extremely disheartening to think that it was purposely destroyed. As our police officers work in partnership with KFR in advancing this investigation, we ask the public to please reach out with any information that may be related.”
Thursday’s fire was the second at the Red Bridge in as many days, with the first reported on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, around 6:45 a.m. Whether or not they are related is part of the ongoing investigation.
In addition to checking security and dash camera footage, police are asking the community to please report anything suspicious they may have observed in or around the waterways and shoreline on the days leading up to the fire.
“You may have observed something that seemed out of place or stood out, which could now be relevant to advancing our investigation into what is believed to have been a criminal act,” added Pelley.
“It’s very important that anyone in the community who has any information which could be related to the Red Bridge fire, please share it with police as soon as possible.”
The investigation is ongoing with the support of the General Investigations Support Team, Forensic Identification Unit, fire investigators, KFR, and frontline officers from both the Kamloops city and Tk’emlúps Rural detachments.
Anyone who witnessed, has video, or information related is asked to contact the Kamloops RCMP Detachment at 250-828-3000 or Tk’emlúps Rural RCMP Detachment at 250-314-1800 and reference file 2024-31206.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Bridges are supposed to unite people, not divide them. Politicians build bridges at every election, like Claude Richmond did with Halston during several elections that the taxpayer had to repair every year since it was built. Politicians build bridges at election time even in places where there is no river to cross “
The first bridge built in 1887 at this location was called Government Bridge. Red Bridge was the third one built in 1936 at this location.
Historians selectively claim that the bridges served to connect the colonial people on the South side with Secwe̓pemc speaking communities on the North side of their territory.
In reality this bridge was built as the main link between the North and South-West Thompson region to serve the economic needs of the European colonists and it served that purpose until the Yellowhead bridge was built in 1968.
The Secwe̓pemc were not consulted on the Red or the Yellowhead bridges even though the bridges were built on their territory. It is well recorded in academic literature that for the most Europeans on the South side, shamefully, Secwe̓pemc people were out of sight and out of mind well into the 20th century. In reality the Red Bridge divided the two communities to this day.
I have lived in Kamloops off and on since 1954 when the population was 11,000 people and every year since, the bridge was in constant repair and never served the economic needs of either population and remained a constant argument as to who was responsible in maintaining it. But that is as they say ‘water under the bridge or hindsight is 20-20’.
We are at the transportation crossroads and it’s time to stop the constant arguments and running repairs and examine the future transportation needs of this important hub whose population will rise to 1,200,000 in the next 70 years.
There are options, as the city continues to grow, that need to be implemented.We must rethink the traffic patterns into and out of the city so those that want to visit can and those that want to go beyond are free to do so without compromising local transportation.
Frank discussion with other municipalities and governments must include a collective demand that the federal government again makes the Bank of Canada a lender for infrastructure loans for municipalities at low interest rates (0 to 1%). This would release needed funds for infrastructure.
Changes in planning have to be made to address the present transportation problems due to topography and urban sprawl and consider infilling, and location of satellite settlements, industrial parks, and highway relocation for through traffic.
The much-loved heritage for some, the Red Bridge, is gone. It’s time to look at replacing it with a bridge that will serve this community well into the future
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Stable leadership at this time is badly needed, but I’m not optimistic it’s forthcoming. Lets call it what it is, it’s been a bloodless coup, sorry if that’s too melodramatic but cancel culture, instigated by council and willingly aided and abetted by admin, has greatly diminished the positions of mayor and council of the City of Kamloops to the detriment of the citizenry. We are now left with 8 rotating talking heads and a more powerful and less competent administration than even that of the Gaglardi years. God help us.
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.8 rotating talking heads and a (way) less competent administration than ever…I love that statement/sentiment
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So let’s catch the culprit, and be open and transparent about who did this. Often times, when the news cycle reports a fire, it’s deemed as “under investigation”. But rarely do we hear the conclusion of that investigation.
The church fire appears to have been stated by a cart pusher. The first bridge fire was started by what appears to be an encampment. It’s like they don’t want to admit what we all know to be true.
On a related point, advocacy and speaking to the community is being done by multiple Mayors (the duly elected, proper and honourable Mayor, and the pretend deputy mayor).
Who is speaking for the city? Is it the deputy Mayor? If so, why are there rotating deputy Mayors? So that every council person gets a turn? Shouldn’t the city have stable leadership rather than a rotating band of wannabes?
Is there a protocol for deputy Mayors, or anything that defines terms, or who and how many get to put on the hat?
At a time like this, Kamloops needs a stable leader, not a rotating talking head from the gallery.
Not only do we have to suffer the indignity of the council, but also must suffer them as Mayor, one and all, each month a new one.
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Not all fires are created equal. This fire was premeditated and on a grand scale.
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Good point, Wilma. Is the present Deputy Mayor none other than the fellow responsible for Fartgate? Now he is defining our path for the future…..at least until the end of September. And, is taking the official position as the spokesperson for the elected members.
Confusing at best as the one named Hall identified Mayor Hamer-Jackson as an embarrassment to the City.
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Offer a reward for viable information that leads to an arrest and prosecution.
This is going to put the pedestrian overpass bridge (at TRU) and a silly outdoor skating rink in Riverside Park into perspective for me and maybe a few others. Where are our priorities?
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