Fire destroyed several businesses on Highway 97 North in Kelowna, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022.
Image Credit: Rob Munro
Republished February 15, 2022 - 10:25 AM
Original Publication Date February 15, 2022 - 8:49 AM
Fire has destroyed several businesses on Highway 97 north of Leathead Road in Kelowna impacting traffic and prompting an air quality advisory.
Fire broke out early this morning, Feb. 15, and Kelowna Fire Department crews remain on the scene. Highway 97 northbound between Leathead Road and McCurdy Road is closed, according to Drive B.C, and a detour is in effect.
There are reports up to six businesses in the 2700 block of Highway 97 North were destroyed in the fire.
Paul Johnson, a Kelowna Fire Department fire prevention officer said the fire started around 2 a.m.
“The investigation is in its infancy,” he told iNFOnews.ca. “We’ve done a walk through and right now we’re talking to witnesses who were here at that time. According to the responding crews, it was quite an intensive fire. There was quite a bit of fuel inside the building. Early indications showed the fire originated at the south end of the building, closest to the Lexus dealer, and it did migrate to the north.”
Fire destroyed several businesses on Highway 97 North in Kelowna, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Lexus of Kelowna
He was compiling a list of businesses that were affected. One was a diving shop and another had racing fuel. He didn’t know the extent or type of fuel but speculated that it had all burned up by that time.
This was one of a number of buildings in the Blue Height Business Complex at 2783 Highway 97 North. The other buildings were undamaged.
“First arriving officer reports black smoke coming from the roof and soffits of the entire commercial structure,” a Kelowna Fire Department news release said. “Due to an open truss design with few fire stops, the fire progressed rapidly. The fire was deemed as an exterior attack due to heavy fire conditions and an unstable structure. The severity was raised to a general alarm which means all available fire personnel are requested to respond, on and off duty. There were several occupants in one of the businesses, however all were able to self-evacuate without injury”
Water from firefighting efforts flowed into the Lexus dealership parking lot to the south so city and fire crews used “trash” pumps and vacuum trucks to remove most of it.
“Damage to the building is extensive and heavy equipment is assisting fire personnel with completing extinguishment,” the release said. “At this time the cause is unknown and the fire is being investigated by Kelowna Fire Dept. Investigators and RCMP.
Fire destroyed several businesses on Highway 97 North in Kelowna, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022.
Image Credit: Rob Munro
The Kelowna fire department is asking people to stay away from the area of the fire.
Environment Canada issued an air quality advisory, saying the particulate matter from the fire was being trapped close to the ground by an inversion.
High concentrations of fine particulate matter are expected to persist in the local atmosphere until weather conditions change, according to a press release from Interior Health and the Ministry.
Those most vulnerable to exposure are people with chronic conditions like asthma, heart disease, diabetes; COVID, pregnant women, infants, and older adults.
— This story was updated at 10:25 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, to add more details from the fire department and the air quality advisory.
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