Four people in the North Okanagan are out of a home after a fire gutted their house just after midnight on Sunday.
The incident happened on Lawes Street in Enderby.
Dan Pippus, who lives in the structure but was not home, says he went to check on the house as soon as he heard the news.
“There was smoke billowing up into the sky,” Pippus said. “It was just really dark. It was really hard to believe.”
Fire officials say Pippus’s roommates were having a party when the house went up in flames, but it is why the fire broke out that has Pippus very upset.
“Apparently some people brought up some fireworks,” he said.
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“We had some early Halloweeners and some fireworks that were set off inside the house,” said Enderby Fire Chief Kevin Alstad. “This was a party that went bad and there is probably a lot of alchol and who knows what else and just pure stupidity.”
Officials say the blaze started in the back of the house and quickly ignited the wooden structure.
“It is totally destroyed. We had no chance of saving this house. It was fully involved when we got here,” Alstad said.
While everyone got out, fire crews had difficulty battling the blaze after the roof fell in.
“The fire was underneath the roof so we had to cut it away and dig,” Alstad said.
Most communities around the Okanagan Valley have restrictions on the possession and use of fireworks.
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Enderby firefighters this is the first fireworks related blaze that they have ever responded to.
While no one was hurt, officials say the fast-moving fire serves as a warning to those interested in fireworks.
“They are dangerous and they need to be handled with care and certainly do not let them off inside your house,” Alstad said.
Pippus echoes the warning, saying the entire incident that lead to his devastating loss could have been prevented.
“I’m really upset. I’m really upset,” he said.
Vernon RCMP spokesman Gord Molendyk says the investigation is ongoing and charges of mischief causing damage could be laid.
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