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Penticton  

House fire in OK Falls

UPDATE: 4:24 p.m.

Amy Peregoodoff who lives in a home that burned in Okanagan Falls Friday afternoon, said the fire started about 1:30 p.m.

"We were having a gas fireplace installed and the installer doing it was using a cutting torch to cut some steel and the chimney insulation caught on fire," she said. "We then called 911 along with our neighbours."

Realizing they had to get out quickly they saved personal items they couldn't replace with the help of neighbours.

Peregoodoff said they were very grateful to both the neighbours and the firefighters for all the assistance.

"The neighbours were really helpful and I have nothing but thanks for the firefighters, they were so prompt and good," she said.

She said the couple, who are in their 80s, have been offered many places to stay and are just awaiting word on what the insurance adjustors have to say.

"Everything will work out fine," she said. "We are just carrying on the best we can."

As for those who helped out, they didn't think twice.

"It was a natural instinct to help out, so I just rushed in," said Kayla McRae, who helped retrieve personal items. "It was also my first time going into a burning house. At the time I was just focused on getting everything out, but afterwards I felt overwhelmed."


The Okanagan Falls Fire Department was called out to a house fire on Birch Street early Friday afternoon.

Fire Chief Bob Haddow said crews are still on scene and there are no reported injuries.

The fire appears to have started in the chimney of a single-storey rancher-style home.

Castanet will provide more details as they become available.



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