Firefighters responded to a report of smoke coming from the Twisted Tomato on Bernard Avenue this morning.

(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)

KELOWNA -- Inspectors have ruled out an electrical fault as the cause of a fire that heavily damaged a Kelowna restaurant.

Fire ripped through the Twisted Tomato restaurant on Bernard Avenue early Monday morning.

Heavy black smoke was coming from the front entrance when crews arrived.

Investigators were at the scene Monday morning -- looking for a cause although arson has been ruled out.

They say it definitely wasn't electrical and that it appears the fire may have started in a back room where staff puts the dirty dishes.

"I guess it's their dirty-room they call it. As they clear the dishes off,  they're stored on a shelf.  And there's also the bread maker and stuff in there. We just don't  know what started the fire from there," says fire inspector, Rick Euper.

He says the inside of the building sustained heavy heat and smoke damage.

Neighbouring businesses, including the Bread Company, were not damaged.

The Bread Company had to shut down for four months as a result of a fire in 2009.

"We know the implications of smoke and fire damage," says co-owner, Dan Bronwyk.

He figures his business escaped the fire because of the quick response from the Kelowna Fire Department and a firewall.

— Story edited at 11:41 a.m. on Jan. 21 to include details from Global Okanagan (with permission).

The early morning fire at a Bernard Avenue restaurant has been deemed accidental.

Deputy Fire Chief Jason Borlund CEM says the investigation into the blaze at the Twisted Tomato is complete, but no further details have been released.

Fire crews managed to confine the fire to the one restaurant. Platoon Capt. Dale Calhoun said this morning the Twisted Tomato restaurant was 'extensive' but no one was hurt. Kelowna Fire Department got the call around 2:39 a.m. and found black smoke coming out the front door. Calhoun described it as an older building with many different levels of ceilings. Crews were still on scene at 6 a.m. ensuring the fire was out.

Kelowna fire department responded with 18 personnel, three engines, one ladder truck, one rescue vehicle, a safety officer and a command unit and other agencies.

The cause of the fire does not appear to be suspicious at this time and cause is not yet determined.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca, call (250) 718-0428 or tweet @AdamProskiw.

— This story was updated at 2:08p.m., January 20, 2014 to include the results of the Kelowna Fire Department investigation.

News from © iNFOnews, 2014