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West Kelowna  

Green Bay dorm fire

UPDATE: 6 a.m.

The fire at Green Bay Bible Camp started in a lounge area on the second floor of a two-storey dormitory.

West Kelowna firefighters arrived at the scene just before 10 p.m.

Guests and staff were in and around the building, said West Kelowna Fire Rescue assistant chief Darren Lee. 

He praised their quick action to help confine the fire by closing doors to the lounge while they evacuated the building, thus starving the fire of oxygen and reducing its spread. No one was hurt in the incident.

Crews ran fire hoses through the courtyard and found the lounge area full of smoke. The fire was burning against an interior wall and had spread into the wall and attic space. 

Firefighters removed drywall from the wall and ceilings to expose and extinguish the extended fire. 

The fire prompted a heavy response. A total of four fire engines and two command vehicles were backed up by a ladder truck and an additional engine, which were were brought in later to perform fire watch and help resort guests secure their personal belongings. RCMP, B.C. Ambulance paramedics, BC Hydro and Fortis gas crews also responded to the incident.

A fire watch crew remained on scene through the night, monitoring for hot spots.

Fire investigators will return this morning to determine the cause and origin of the fire.


ORIGINAL: 11 p.m.

Firefighters in West Kelowna were quick to extinguish a fire in a dormitory at the Green Bay Bible Camp in West Kelowna.

Multiple 911 calls prompted crews to respond with three engines and about 25 firefighters and staff, late Saturday.

"Our crews fought a fire on the second floor. We were able to knock it down and confine it to that room," said West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund.

"We have approximately between 50 and 100 people staying in the building tonight. They are all from out of town."

Brolund said crews were trying to account for everybody. A search of the building turned up nothing.

"We believe everybody made it out safely."

Brolund said the next step is to determine the cause of the fire.

As for the area itself, with so many buildings on the property, Brolund said they erred on the side of caution.

"We have a standard plan for this type of thing, and when it happens, it's a matter of sticking to that plan.

"For us tonight, that was having three engines and 25 or so staff."



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