Update – Kamloops RCMP are looking for a man in his 30’s, who they say is a suspect in the motel fire this morning.
Cpl. Jodi Shelkie says witnesses say they could smell smoke and went to investigate, when they saw a man leaving a second floor room.
“The man got into a pick-up truck and drove away,” she said. “This man is believed to be the same man who was registered in the room. Hotel registration information is being investigated however, at this time, the name and license plate that the man supplied has not yielded a positive identification.”
Shelkie says the man is Caucasian with facial hair, and says he was wearing a blue button-down shirt and a red ball cap when he registered at the hotel.
“When he was seen leaving the hotel room, he was wearing a grey sweater,” Shelkie added. “He was driving a black partially lifted Ford pick-up truck with an Alberta license plate, and a broken left tail light.
The motel room is being secured and the investigation is ongoing.
Shelkie is urging anyone with information to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
Original – Fire crews are calling a blaze at a Kamloops motel this morning “suspicious.”
Kamloops Fire Rescue Captain Kris Krutop says the fire was contained to a single room in the Travelodge on Rogers Way.
“We saw smoke and flames showing when we first arrived, and we saw some people gathered outside. We sent a crew in right away, and they were able to extinguish the fire quickly. They saw a bunch of debris in the room, that’s a little bit unusual. So we have our provincial people investigating the fire.”
Krutop says the room was empty when crews showed up.
He says unconfirmed witness reports said someone was seen speeding away from the scene after the blaze started.
“We didn’t see anybody fleeing the scene, we did get a report from the manager on site that that was the case, and also a neighbor in an adjacent room said the same thing. But we never did witness anybody come in or out of the room.’
Kamloops RCMP are expected to release more information later today, Cpl. Jodi Shelkie tells NL News.
– with files from Victor Kaisar
Crews are wrapping up. Fire apparently was contained to one unit and someone fled the scene in a pickup after starting it. Hence the added police presence. Waiting for confirmation. #Kamloops @RadioNLNews pic.twitter.com/kz8nKskVmq
— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) January 30, 2020
