UPDATE: A construction crane that may have been compromised during an intense structure fire on Tuesday, will be inspected by engineers on Friday, April 9, according to Dave Nahal, spokesperson for Wyndham Developments.
ORIGINAL STORY:
An evacuation order around a Kelowna condo project that went up in flames on Tuesday morning has been expanded due to concerns about the structural integrity of a tall crane on the property.
“We are working with the City of Kelowna, Emergency Management BC, WorksafeBC, the Kelowna Fire Department and professional engineers to assess the level of risk, determine the structural integrity of the crane and mitigate the situation as quickly as possible,” said Central Okanagan Regional Emergency Program coordinator Sandra Follack.
The evacuation order that was expanded to include a 90-metre radius (300 feet) of the construction site on Wednesday evening includes the following addresses:
- Units 1-7, 115 Wyndham Crescent
- 129 Wyndham Crescent (the site of the condo fire)
- Units 123-131, 133 Wyndham Crescent
“Public safety is our No. 1 priority and we are operating under an abundance of caution to ensure the safety of our residents,” Follack said.
WorkSafeBC has issued a stop-work order on the property until the crane can be assessed to assure its stability and risk of failure is controlled.
“WorkSafeBC is aware of this incident and we are working collaboratively with the municipal fire department and the prime contractor to ensure the safety of the site,” spokesperson Ivy Yuen said.
Glenmore and Union roads, where the project backs onto, remain closed to traffic and pedestrians, and detours are in place.
The wood-framed condo project was to be a 50-unit, four-storey building.
No one was injured, according to the Kelowna Fire Department
The investigation into the blaze has yet to begin as the site has not been deemed safe to enter.
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