Kelowna

An investigation is underway after an explosion rocked a quiet neighbourhood at 3250 St. Amand Road early Sunday morning.

Neighbours rushed into the street to see a fire raging in the carport and quickly spreading to the house. A truck in the carport was also burning as was an Infinity J30, which was parked on the grass in the yard.

One couple who live nearby and did not wish to be identified say they were just getting ready for bed when they heard a big commotion across the street.

"We saw them light the fire and everything. First they were smashing the truck, so we phoned the RCMP and then we were watching and we saw them light the back part of the carport on fire, so we phoned back and said you better send the fire trucks to."

The pair also believes the RCMP caught the culprits.

"They came with the RCMP dog and tracked the guys down on the road there. The rumour last night was they (RCMP) had two in custody."

Witnesses also tell Castanet that the people who lived inside were tenants of the property and worried there may have been some conflict with the landlord.

Karen St. Amand lives next door and was home when the fire started.

"I was woken up by the explosion, I heard a big bang in the back. I looked out the window and saw a big fire. My neighbour across the street phoned me and I came out and the house was in flames. The explosions were bad and they just kept coming."

St. Amand added that the police and fire departments were already on the way when she got outside, and most agree the quick response prevented any further damage from happening.

"We got called around 3:15 this morning to a house that had explosions at it. The crews arrived and found that there was two vehicles and the carport itself that were fully involved," says Platoon Captain Dale Calhoun.

A team of 15 firefighters, backed by three engines, a Rescue and Command Unit attacked the fire. The RCMP and BC Ambulance Service also responded.

"It's too early to tell (the cause of the fire), we do suspect that there's arson on this one here, so we have our fire investigators and the RCMP investigators looking at it right now."

Calhoun added that no one was inside the house at the time and no one was injured in the incident. The investigation continues and anyone with any information is asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

If you have any pictures or video of the event, please email news@castanet.net.

St. Amand Rd. fire-July 22, 2012

Photo: Contributed - Kelowna Fire Dept.

Photo: Contributed - Kelowna Fire Dept.

Photo: Grant Scott

Photo: Grant Scott

Photo: Grant Scott

Photo: Grant Scott

Photo: Grant Scott

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