Photo: Colin Dacre
Fire and HazMat crews investigate a noxious odor at an apartment complex in West Kelowna on Sunday.
UPDATE 4 p.m.
Around 150 tenants in a newly built rental apartment building in West Kelowna have been evicted indefinitely.
West Kelowna Fire Rescue and the regional HazMat team searched in vain for the source of the noxious odor on Sunday. However, the crews continue to experience levels of concern in various parts of the building at 3623 Elliott Road.
The building has now been handed over to its owner and declared unsafe with the instruction “Do not occupy”.
West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund says no one is allowed to enter the building until it has been made safe by the owner with the help of qualified professionals.
Residents of the building have been instructed to report to ambulance services at the Royal LePage Arena on Cameron Road in West Kelowna before 10 p.m. tonight. The reception center will reopen tomorrow at 9 a.m. Affected residents receive 72 hours of support in the form of accommodation, meal vouchers and ancillary costs.
The owner Ironclad Developments will make arrangements for renters after this period.
“WKFR firefighters will remain on site until tonight to assist evacuees by removing important and critical items (medication, ID, car keys) from the building. This can be arranged after registering at the ESS reception center,” said Brolund .
“We would like to thank the residents and owners of the building for their cooperation in this challenging situation. We are also grateful for the support of the ESS volunteers who continue to take care of the evacuees. “
The fire department says that further updates will be made available by the client.
UPDATE: 1 p.m.
The homes in West Kelowna that were evacuated Sunday morning because of a noxious odor are brand new and residents only started moving in a few months ago.
Early Sunday morning, about 150 people were evacuated from the Lakeview Point apartment buildings at 3623 Elliott Road after a noxious odor was found in one of them.
Two of the four buildings in the settlement are currently inhabited, the other two are still under construction. Fire brigade and HazMat crews have yet to locate the source of the odor.
Ironclad Developments owns and operates the rental apartments.
“Ironclad Developments Inc. fully supports the fire department’s decision to evacuate the building out of caution and temporary relocation of residents,” said Lauren Clemens, director of corporate affairs, Ironclad.
“A detailed inspection has already been completed and an additional inspection is currently taking place to safely and quickly restore full tenant access.”
According to Clemens, around 80 units are currently occupied between the two buildings.
A warming center for emergency services has been opened for the evacuated residents at Royal Lepage Place. Earlier, Jason Brolun, chief of the West Kelowna Fire Department, said “plans are in place for residents” if the source of the noxious odor is not found before dark.
An update of the situation is expected by 3 p.m.
UPDATE: 11 a.m.
Fire and HazMat crews continue to search a West Kelowna apartment building for the source of a strange smell that was first detected early Sunday morning but has not yet been found.
Approximately 150 residents were evacuated from the building on Elliott Road shortly before 4 a.m. after the smell was first noticed in the building, and they are still unable to return.
“The building was swept and all suites on the affected floors were visually checked. Nothing was found. While some clues were received, none were strong or persistent enough to identify the exact nature or cause, ”said Jason Brolund, West Kelowna chief fire officer.
“The continued patience of the public and residents of the building will be appreciated as we work to locate the problem and get them back to their homes as soon as it is safe to do so.”
The Emergency Support Services team has opened a heating center for residents at Royal Lepage Place. Brolund says there are “plans” in case residents have to stay evacuated all evening.
Another update of the situation is expected at 3 p.m.
ORIGINAL: 7:10 am
About 150 residents of a large apartment building in West Kelowna were roused from their sleep in the early hours of Sunday morning because of a strange smell in the building, which sparked a response from the HazMat team at Kelowna Fire Rescue.
At around 3:45 a.m., the smell was noticed in the building on Elliott Road near Gosset Road and residents were evacuated from their homes.
While the firefighters examined the smell from 5:45 a.m., they had not yet found the cause of the problem. It is unclear what is causing it.
As a result, 150 residents and their pets have run out of space. Jason Brolund, West Kelowna fire chief, says the regional emergency services team has been activated and a warmth center has been set up on Royal Lepage Place.
Buses have transported residents who need a ride to the thermal center.
The ESS has asked everyone evacuated from the apartment building to register at Royal Lepage Place.
It is not clear when residents can expect to return to their homes.
