What remains of a condominium complex under construction in Kelowna can be seen in this photo taken on Wednesday April 7, 2021. Fire investigators need to know that the crane is safe on the job site before they can search for the cause of the fire.
(ROB MUNRO / iNFOnews.ca)
April 07, 2021 – 8:14 p.m.
Up to nine houses in Kelowna have been evacuated before the charred remains of a crane involved in Tuesday’s fire can be assessed and safely dismantled.
The Central Okanagan Regional Emergency Program has declared a local state of emergency and evacuated anyone living within 300 feet of the crane on Glenmore Road and Union Road. The crane was involved in a massive fire on Tuesday in a 54-unit apartment complex under construction. The damaged crane also keeps roads closed and even keeps fire inspectors at bay.
“We are waiting for the contractor or the insurance company to determine the integrity of the crane before we send people in,” said Deputy Fire Brigade Chief Sandra Kaleb today, April 7th, to iNFOnews.ca.
Glenmore Road, a major route connecting Kelowna and Lake Country, is closed in front of the site, as is Union Road.
Kaleb hopes the situation will be resolved quickly but cannot say when it will be and cannot say whether or not the fire is suspicious.
The emergency program coordinator, Sandra Follack, called out of “great caution”.
“We are working with the City of Kelowna, Emergency Management BC, Worksafe BC, the Kelowna Fire Department and professional engineers to assess the risk, determine the structural integrity of the crane, and resolve the situation as quickly as possible,” she said in a publication.
These houses are being evacuated:
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Units 1 – 7, 115 Wyndham Crescent
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129 Wyndham Crescent
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Units 123-131, 133 Wyndham Crescent
For the latest information on evacuation, visit cordemergency.ca.
READ MORE: UPDATE: Kelowna apartment complex under construction destroyed by fire
The first two floors of the proposed four-story building had been completed and the walls on the third floor began to rise the day before the fire broke out, the owner said.
“I’m devastated after the loss,” said Dave Nahal. “It was a very hard and hard loss.”
He said he was in no mood to talk about the fire but expected to rebuild one day.
“I’m pretty baffled at the moment,” he said. “I just want to take a break to think about it.”
Kaleb explained that the crane belongs to another company, not the client, and that they are dealing with people there.
The Central Okanagan Regional Emergency Program press release said this about traffic closures.
“Glenmore Road will remain closed between Cross and Scenic Road and Union Road will remain closed between Wyndham Crescent and Valley Road. The sidewalks on Glenmore between Cross and Scenic will be closed to pedestrian traffic, as will the sidewalks on Union between Glenmore Road and Snowsell Street North.
Southbound traffic was diverted to Snowsell Street North and Scenic Road, while northbound traffic was diverted to Snowsell Street North and Valley Road. Electronic message boards and signage were installed to direct traffic. These closures and detours will remain in place until further notice.
“To ensure public safety, we ask the public to avoid restricted areas on and along Glenmore Road and to obey traffic and sidewalk closures, signs and detours,” said Lance Kayfish, Kelowna City Risk Manager. “Further details and information will be provided as they become available.”
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