The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in British Columbia said a wildfire that has prompted evacuations and safety warnings near the village of Leighton was started by a police vehicle, according to Todd Quinn of The Canadian Press.

“The fire in the Isman Creek area began Tuesday after a mechanical failure of a police trailer that resulted in an accidental fire,” Staff Sergeant Chris Clark said in an emailed statement Thursday.

“It appears the right-hand wheel of the trailer came off and ignited the grass on the side of the road,” Clark explained.

“A police officer stopped at the scene and attempted to put out the fire with a hand extinguisher, but conditions were not conducive and the fire was not under control.”

This story is still being developed and more updates are expected soon.

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