One of two Kelowna pickup truck fires likely arson

KELOWNA, B.C. – RCMP attended to two pickup truck fires in Kelowna, Monday night.

While one is accidental, the other is suspicious.

In the first incident, the driver was northbound on Highway 97 at about 10:00 p.m. when he saw smoke coming from under the hood of his truck.

He pulled over, called 911, and the fire department responded to douse the flames.

But police also attended and that meant trouble for the 26-year-old man.

“Investigators noted an odour of liquor on the driver’s breath and entered an impaired investigation,” says RCMP Cst. Jesse O’Donaghey. “The driver failed to provide a sample of breath, he refused, and was issued an immediate roadside prohibition.”

That means a 90 day driving ban and the vehicle was impounded for a month.

The second blaze, about a half hour later on Hollydell Road involving a parked vehicle, is probably arson.

“A motorist noticed black smoke, circled back to investigate, and found a vehicle on fire, a white Chevy Silverado pickup,” says O”Donaghey.

The man ran to the house associated to the pickup to alert the residents, grabbed a shovel, and doused the flaming cab of the truck with snow.

“At this time there are indicators at the scene that lead us to believe it is suspicious,” says O’Donaghey.

A witness says the driver side passenger window had been smashed.

The late-model pickup was towed away for forensic examination.

RCMP are hoping tips from the public will help solve the arson.