UPDATE:
West Kelowna Fire Rescue estimated the damage from Friday night’s fire to be in excess of $200,000.
“Three of the 15 units were heavily damaged by fire, with several others suffering smoke and water damage,” said West Kelowna Fire Rescue (WKFR) Brent Watson, adding all of the units were evacuated.
“Damage is estimated at well over $200,000, but quick action by the first arriving WKFR crews most certainly kept the fire from impacting more units.”
Watson said there were no injuries and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
All told, 10 emergency vehicles responded to the fire, including six fire engines, while additional units were called in to cover Westbank and Glenrosa.
WKFR said with all units committed, mutual aid was requested from the Kelowna Fire Department to cover the Rose Valley, Lakeview Heights and Casa Loma neighbourhoods.
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West Kelowna fire crews have doused flames that destroyed four units in an apartment building at 2585 Hebert Road.
The call for emergency assistance came in just before 8 p.m. on Friday from multiple residents in the building.
Crews said they saw flames and smoke climbing up the side of the three-storey building when they arrived.
Initial reports are that the fire began in a ground floor apartment but the cause of the blaze remains under investigation, according to West Kelowna assistant fire chief Brent Watson.
The tenants who lived in the unit where the fire reportedly began were seen leaving the area, according to Chris Roussin, who manages two units in the building.
A couple who lost everything in the fire had just moved to West Kelowna from Ontario three weeks ago and had yet to acquire content insurance, according to Roussin.
“This is a tough start,” Roussin told Global News.
Everyone was able to escape the flames, according to the fire department.
Resident Leah Obster said the residents did a head count among themselves before emergency crews arrived.
Emergency social services has been called in to assist residents from at least four units, but it’s not known exactly how many people are going to be affected by the fire in the building.
West Kelowna fire crews will remain at the scene overnight monitoring for hot spots.
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