Warehouse ravaged by fire

UPDATE 10:23 a.m.

Kelowna Fire Department Platoon Captain Kelly Stephens, tells Castanet they responded to a fire in the 2700 block of Hwy 97, in the Blue Heights industrial area.

First responders discovered a large single story commercial building with 20-foot flames and heavy black smoke coming from the centre of the building.

Crews began a defensive attack to fight the flames with large master streams from elevated ladder trucks and multiple 2.5-inch hand lines.

There were 42 personnel on scene with five engines, two ladder trucks a Rescue unit, a Command unit and a safety unit.

Emergency Health Services, RCMP, and Fortis all were on scene.

The entire structure sustained major damage but crews managed to prevent the fire from consuming all the offices.

One firefighter sustained minor injuries.

City suction trucks where brought to the scene to reduce water damage to neighbouring businesses.

Fire Investigators from Kelowna Fire and RCMP are still on the scene searching for the cause.

Fire crews will remain at the scene, throughout the day, to extinguish hot spots with an excavator that will help move debris to get to the deep-seated smouldering fires.

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UPDATE 8:35 a.m.

Business owners in the Blue Heights Industrial centre woke up to some very bad news this morning.

A blaze broke out in what is believed to be a medical marijuana growing facility, located right next door to Bunnies Escort agency and some self storage on one side and School District 23 Transportation maintenance facility on the other side.

One business owner who requested to remain anonymous tells Castanet he has some 400 tires stored in the building and he does not believe they would have survived the intense heat. "The intensity of the heat will make it difficult to save anything." The business owner arrived on scene just after 5 a.m., "flames were shooting from the roof and big black smoke was billowing."

Firefighters hit the building hard with multiple ladder trucks on scene trying to prevent the blaze from spreading.

UPDATE: 6:50 a.m.

Flames are still pouring from a structure fire at Kelowna's Blue Heights commercial complex.

Castanet's Rob Gibson is on the scene, and reports numerous fire crews are hitting the blaze hard from all sides.

Two ladder trucks are being used to pour water on the fire from above.

The blaze does not appear to be under control, but has been knocked down in intensity.

Although not confirmed, the fire appears to have possibly originated in a medical marijuana facility in the complex at Highway 97 and McCurdy Road.

Highway traffic has not been impacted, although the school bus compound directly behind the building is close by, and it's believed the blaze may affect this morning's service.

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ORIGINAL: 5:50 a.m.

Castanet has received several eyewitness reports of a fire at the corner of McCurdy Road and Alsgard Street.

We have received multiple reports of fire trucks on scene.

We will have more information as it becomes available.