The building was set for the demo
UPDATE 4:06 p.m.
West Kelowna Fire and Rescue, along with firefighters from the Lakeview and Glenrosa Fire Stations, responded to a fire in an old packing house that was once used for the fruit industry but was most recently used to store boats.
Gellatly Rd. Was closed and will remain so from 4pm Wednesday.
Residents were asked to stay in their homes because of the heavy smoke in the area.
The building was due to be demolished today and the cause of the fire has been deemed accidental. Firefighters believe the fire started due to activities related to the demolition. The workers on the construction site made it safely and there were no injuries to the public or firefighters.
“An excavator was already on site to do the demolition and it was used to extinguish the fire. Crews and equipment will remain on site for several hours until the fire is completely extinguished and the demolition will be completed in the coming days.” says West Kelowna Fire Department chief Jason Brolund.
UPDATE 2:37 p.m.
West Kelowna firefighters now have fire at a boat storage facility on Gellatly Road. under control.
West Kelowna Fire and Rescue Chief Jason Brolund tells Castanet that the building is due to be demolished today.
“The fire was caused by operations inside the building associated with the demolition. Sparks were generated and trapped on insulation, and the fire proceeded very quickly from that point on.”
Brolund says the real concern was all of the black smoke created by the fire.
Nobody was injured in the fire.
ORIGINAL 12:35 pm
The West Kelowna firefighters are at the site of a major fire near the West Kelowna Yacht Club on Gellatly Road.
Dark, black smoke rising from the fire can be seen from afar.
West Kelowna Fire Department chief Jason Brolund confirmed that the fire is burning in the old packing house that is used to store boats.
A resident on the Kelowna side of Lake Okanagan said he saw flames from the fire.
Castanet will have more information as it becomes available.
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Photo: Owen Gier
