It's suspicious that two fires would start so close together.

That according to Penticton Fire Chief, Wayne Williams, as the investigation into two structure fires is underway.

The first fire started on Edmonton Avenue just after 5 p.m. Sunday. A three unit townhouse went up in flames.

“It seemed very suspicious that a fire would start there because there was no power in that building. While we were attending that fire, the second one was called in,” says Williams.

He says just before 6 p.m., fire broke out at the Hamlets, a retirement condo complex located behind the Penticton Plaza on Duncan Avenue, which was set to open in May.

“It’s always suspicious if we don’t have a known cause for a fire. And the fact we had two fires so close to each other is suspicious as well. We are doing an on-site investigation with the RCMP and the Office of the Fire Commissioner.”

Williams says the Safeway in the Plaza had to be evacuated as the fire was right behind it.

“We did have two firefighters suffer injury while fighting the Duncan Avenue fire. One suffered heat exhaustion and was treated on-scene. Another suffered a dislocated shoulder and was taken to hospital for treatment. He was released Sunday night.”

He says fire crews were on scene at the Duncan Avenue fire overnight putting out hot spots.

Williams says the Edmonton Avenue fire did minimal damage to the building’s interior but a large portion of the complex on Duncan Avenue was destroyed.