In the wake of last week’s house fire in Upper Sahali, the Kamloops Fire Chief is warning people about the dangers of cedar trees on your property.

Ken Uzeloc says there is ample evidence to show how quickly cedars can burn.

“No matter how much water to put to them, they grow fast and they are a dry product,” he told NL News.

“And general landscaping against your home is not part of the FireSmart recommendation so we would encourage people to not use cedars and to whatever type of landscaping you’re using, don’t put it right up against your home, make sure you’ve got a good buffer.”

Uzeloc previously told NL News that the fire started on the side of a nearby walking path before making its way into cedars and up into the attic on the property. The fire is being treated as suspicious at this time, as investigators have not determined the cause of the blaze.

It is not the first time KFR has warned people about the dangers of cedars, though Uzeloc stopped short of calling for a total ban on the trees across Kamloops.

“I would hope that people would heed the warning we’re giving them and make the right choices to protect their property and themselves, “Uzeloc said. “You know, I’m not saying I’m looking at it right now, but I’m not saying it might not be something we would look at in the future.”

He says people who have questions about FireSmart can reach out to the Kamloops Fire Department, who continue to noting they are hoping to take an education first approach

“We’re here to support people and assist them in education and prevention and when that doesn’t work then we’re here to provide the response and the mitigation,” Uzeloc said.

“When we see something that is a direct cause of potential injury and property damage, we’re obligated to identify those and do what we can.”