Vernon Fire Department (File Photo)
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
August 19, 2015 - 9:45 AM
VERNON - A pair of Vernon men were airlifted to Vancouver last week after suffering serious burns in an apartment fire.
The two men, ages 20 and 21, were inside an apartment building in the 3400 block of Okanagan Avenue when a fire started in the bathroom. Deputy Vernon Fire Chief Jack Blair says they managed to flee the building by the time firefighters arrived on scene, shortly after 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14.
Firefighters gained entry and were able to put out the fire — which badly damaged the bathroom area — before it spread to other units in the complex. The investigation into what caused the fire has been turned over to the police, Blair says.
RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says officers investigated the scene but have so far been unable to interview the two occupants given their conditions. Both were flown to the burn unit at Vancouver General Hospital where it’s believed they remain as of Wednesday, Aug. 19, Molendyk says.
Police have some ideas as to the cause of the fire, but aren’t releasing any details.
“We’re not prepared at this point to come out and say what we believe was the cause,” Molendyk says.
Molendyk wouldn’t comment on any suspected causes, or how the occupants came to sustain the burn injuries.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015