Fire crews will remain at the scene of a commerical fire on McCurdy Road, throughout the day to extinguish hot spots with a excavator that will help move debris to get to the deep seated smoldering fires.
Crews were called at 5:10 a.m. to the fire on the 2700 block of Highway 97.
“First arriving crews reported a large single story commercial building with 20’ heavy flames and smoke coming from center of the building,” said Kelly Stephens, platoon captain of the Kelowna Fire Department.
“A defensive attack of the building was started with large master streams from elevated ladder trucks and multiple 2 ½” hand lines.”
Forty-two personnel were on scene with five engines, two ladder trucks a rescue unit, a command unit and safety unit.
EHS, RCMP, and Fortis were also on scene.
“The entire structure sustained major damage but crews managed to keep fire from all exposure buildings,” said Stephens.
“City suction trucks where brought to the scene to reduce water damage to neighbouring business. Fire Investigators from Kelowna Fire and RCMP are on scene to find cause.”
ORIGINAL 6:30 a.m.
A commercial building at Highway 97 and McCurdy Road has been destroyed by fire.
Fire crews have been working to douse the blaze since before sunrise Monday morning, but the inferno still managed to take out at least one building entirely while another looks severely damaged.
Witnesses at the scene say that it was a medical marijuana cultivation operation, and the smell of pot is quite pronounced at some points around the building, but there has been no confirmation of that.
As of now, the building is still smoking and there is no noticeable flame.
There seems to be no impact to traffic around the area, and people who work in adjacent businesses are still filing in to work this morning.
To report a typo, email:
newstips@kelownacapnews.com.
@KelownaNewsKat
kmichaels@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
