Kelowna

Photo: Jennifer Zielinski

Fire crews investigate a fatal fire in Kelowna Friday morning.

UPDATE: The cause of Friday morning's fire has been determined as accidental.

It appears a space heater at the foot of the bed may have been accidentally partially covered with a blanket causing it to overheat.

The BC Coroners Service says the name of the victim is Jason Patrick Donahue, aged 46, of Kelowna.

RCMP are assisting the BC Coroners Service in the investigation.

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A 46-year-old man is dead and several people are homeless after an early morning house fire. 

The Kelowna Fire Department responded to the call of a two storey house fire around 4 a.m. in the 800 block of Saucier Ave.

Upon arrival, KFD crews observed smoke in the carport which was coming from inside the lower level of the residence.

Three engines, one rescue,  and one command Unit and 16 firefighters responded.  RCMP were on scene and the BC Ambulance service arrived within a few minutes.

First arriving crew advanced an initial attack line to the lower entrance and were able to contain the fire to a single bedroom.

Platoon Captain, Henry Roelofs says, "They also located a resident lying on the floor and were able to quickly carry him to the entrance where other firefighters carried him to a waiting ambulance. Ambulance personnel assisted by firefighters tried to revive the victim but were unsuccessful."

The other four residents had vacated the building prior to fire crews arriving.

Emergency Social Services will be contacted if the residents need accommodation as the lower part of the house will not be habitable till repaired.

KFD and RCMP investigators are on scene to determine the cause of the fire and damage is estimated at $5000.

Kelowna Fire Department reminds residents to ensure their smoke alarms are working and bedroom doors should be kept shut.