A condo fire on Maple Street in Penticton, Tuesday, June 29, 2021 has displaced four families.
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June 30, 2021 - 10:25 AM
A large fire at a Penticton complex yesterday has displaced four families.
The blaze was first reported to the Penticton Fire Department at around 5 p.m., June 29, at a condo complex on Maple Street. Two units were heavily damaged and two other units experienced minor damage. One family will be able to return home, fire chief Larry Watkinson said.
“Crews were able to contain the fire mostly to the roof and the top floor so the fire was quite heavily involved in the roof and in the attic space,” he said.
A couple of cats stayed in the units.
“After the event was wrapped up, we heard the cats inside and they just didn’t want to come out and we wouldn’t let the homeowners in just due to the gassing off and the toxins inside there, so they stayed in the unit last night and fire investigators are going inside today with the families to get the cats out,” he said.
Large hand lines were deployed around the building and firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the complex.
“There were owned units and rentals,” he said.
The fire is under investigation and it is not suspicious.
The families are staying in a hotel and are working with emergency support services to determine the next steps for them, Watkinson said.
Prior to the condo fire, crews were also battling a mill fire.
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“It was a long day of firefighting in 40 degree weather. It’s hard on the members. We very quickly get exhausted wearing all the firefighting equipment and heavy gear and we appreciate the support,” he said.
No serious injuries were reported but firefighters experienced heat exhaustion.
“We had to go through rehabilitation and we had to get their body temperatures cooled down,” Watkinson said.
There were two engines, a ladder truck, a rescue unit, a support unit, three command staff and 23 firefighters on scene.
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