Accidental gun shot identified as cause of North Okanagan house fire | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Accidental gun shot identified as cause of North Okanagan house fire

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LUMBY - A devastating house fire in Lumby was caused by an accidental gun shot, according to investigators.

The fire gutted a home on Derry Lane and displaced the family that lives there Thursday afternoon.

Deputy Fire Chief Lawrie Skolrood says the homeowner was cleaning his guns in the master bedroom of the home when a target rifle fell over and accidentally went off. The round ignited some nearby gun powder and a fire took off immediately.

“It was a highly customized rifle with a light trigger and it didn’t take much for it to go off,” Skolrood says.

He says the ignition of the gunpowder created a “fire ball” in the bedroom and led to severe damage throughout the home.

The man was alone in the house at the time and got out safely, although he did suffer some smoke inhalation.

Skolrood says the man is an experienced hunter and points out the incident is a good reminder of the need to be cautious with firearms.

“It’s just a good example of how flammable this stuff can be and how important it is for firearms to be stored carefully and handled with care,” Skolrood says.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston or call 250-309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 


To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston or call 250-309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

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