North Okanagan

Lumby laundromat up in flames

Photo: Contributed - Wanda McGregor Kain

Photo: Contributed - Wanda McGregor Kain

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Update: According to the RCMP, the fire that destroyed a laundromat on Vernon Street is not considered suspicious.

 

RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says the incident is still under investigation.

 

"At this point the scene is basically frozen solid so we have to wait for a thaw to investigate further."

 

Both tenants inside the residential apartments are safe and uninjured.

 

" Lumby Fire Department did an outstanding job by calling in extra resources and containing the fire as well as they did," says Molendyk.

 

Fire has destroyed a laundromat  and two residential apartments on Vernon Street in Lumby.

The blaze was called in early Monday night. 

Lumby Fire Chief, Tony Clayton says the back portion of the building was on fire when crews arrived, and spread rapidly.

Clayton says the old building was made with sawdust insulation and had been renovated several times.

"It was an ugly fire to fight," says Clayton because of the way it spread.

Clayton says fire crews were able to protect an adjacent building from also catching fire.

He says that building quickly became firefighters main concern.

Fire crews from Lavington, Coldstream and BX1 assisted Lumby in fighting the fire while Lumby Public Works provided heavy equipment.

Fire crews are in the midst of mopping up; however, Highway 6 around the fire will be closed until about 9 a.m. while crews mop up.

Detours are in effect.

Clayton says the building is a complete loss.

There were no injuries.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

This is the second commercial building to be destroyed by fire in the Okanagan in recent days.

On Saturday, fire destroyed Slack Alice's, the Chinese Laundry Restaurant and a beer and wine store in Penticton.

Castanet's Kelly Hayes reports from Lumby