A family has been displaced after their home, located at the Winfield Mobile Home Park, was engulfed in flames in Lake Country on Monday night.
Kelowna fire platoon captain Jarret Dais says fire crews responded to a single-family structure fire in the 700 block of Beaver Lake Road at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Upon arrival, the home was fully involved in flames.
“Thankfully, all residents were able to evacuate the home,” he said.
“Through swift action by crews on scene, the fire was extinguished quickly limiting the damage to the single mobile home.”
Neighbours said five people, including three adults and two children, lived inside the home.
“My daughter came running down the hall screaming, the neighbour’s house was on fire. We came outside and saw the back area was already on fire,” said neighbour Anni Albright.
“It progressed really quickly.”
Albright said her children grew up with the fire victim’s children, and the family is distraught.
“They are devastated over everything that happened — all the memories, everything is gone.”
According to a GoFundMe page, the family has been identified as “The Samms.”
“The Samms are a hardworking family with strong ties in our community,” the crowdfunding campaign says.
“They are part of the local hockey association and brownies group in town. The family is now left to pick up the pieces from this devastating tragedy.”
Fire officials said there was also minor damage to a nearby RV and hedge.
One resident suffered from minor smoke inhalation and was treated on scene by paramedics.
Residents also expressed concern about the lack of fire hydrants within the mobile home park, and the delay it may have caused in response efforts.
The City of Kelowna confirmed there are no hydrants on the property, which is on Okanagan Indian Band land.
“KFD knows there are no hydrants there, so they had two water tenders with them, which were adequate to extinguish the fire,” city spokesperson Tom Wilson said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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