Flames engulfed a home in the Penticton on Wednesday afternoon, with strong winds blowing smoke across the street and sparking an initial fire reaction.
Penticton Deputy Fire Chief Rob Truesdell said wind has always been a problem here in Okanagan.
“It simply came to our notice then. So our crews are well aware of this and you can see the way [the smoke] was crossing the street, so they even got to the point where it affected their reactions, “he said.
“When they went outside, the heavy smoke was rising low, so they had to be very careful when approaching the scene.
Until the arrival of the fire brigade, the occupants of the home were outside. No casualties were reported.
“It seems to have spread to the attic space and taken over the adjacent car park next to the house.”
About 15 to 20 firefighters were on the scene, fighting the blaze about an hour after it started. City workers arrived on the scene to cut off power lines to the home.
“There is no natural gas, but of course there is electricity, so we were worried that the live power lines were affected by the fire. That’s why City Electrical responded and managed to turn them off for us, which made it much safer for people to work, “said Truesdell.
The cause of the fire remains to be clarified.
UPDATE: 5:15 p.m.
Castanet reporter Casey Richardson reports that smoke and fires have subsided on Conklin Avenue at 5:15 p.m.
Fire crews arrived quickly at the scene of the fire, which quickly spread to the home.
Castanet turned to the Penticton Fire Department for more information.
ORIGINAL: 4:40 p.m.
A house on fire in the Penticton on Wednesday afternoon.
Fire crews responded to 460 Conklin Avenue. The whole street is full of smoke.
Reporter Casey Richardson is on the scene. She says fire crews are currently trying to stop the spread to neighboring buildings.
A neighbor told Castanet that they “smelled of burning plastic,” the smoke worsened, and then they realized there was an explosive sound.
Another neighbor, who called 911, said, “I never knew a house could go up so fast.”
In addition to the house, there is a truck in the property, which is also on fire.
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