Mobile home fire suspicious

Photo: Carmen Weld

UPDATE 10:25 A.M.

A fire that destroyed a mobile home at the Okanagan Villa Mobile Home Park early Wednesday morning may have been deliberately set.

That according to fire inspector, Paul Johnson.

"The investigation is just starting now but early indications are that something suspicious did happen here," says Johnson.

"We are going to wait for the RCMP fire investigator and do a joint investigation."

Johnson says the RCMP have an idea why the residence may have been targeted.

The lone male occupant of the mobile home smelled smoke, heard the smoke detector and was able to get out safely with his cat.

Johnson adds a visit by the fire department to the mobile home park just last week may have saved the man's life.

"Last week our fire prevention branch was doing a smoke alarm campaign. We actually went through and made sure every trailer in this park had a working smoke alarm," says Johnson.

"We checked everyone's smoke alarm. For those that didn't have one we gave them a free one and installed it."

Fire crews in Kelowna responded to a structure fire at a mobile home park early Wednesday morning.

The blaze was reported just after 3 a.m. at the Okanagan Villa Mobile Home Park, north of McCurdy Road.

When crews arrived they found a mobile home fully engulfed in flames, but were able to put it out before it spread to any neighbouring units.

Damage to the building is said to be extensive; a vehicle in the carport was also burned.

One person was home at the time and awoke to sounds of his smoke alarm. He was able to escape the home safely, along with his cat.

The fire is being investigated by the RCMP and the fire department. 

If you have photos and video send them to [email protected].

Photo: Carmen Weld