Early morning fire sends 3 to hospital

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A cigarette is to blame for an early morning fire in an apartment building on Winnipeg Street in Penticton.

According to assistant fire chief, Dave Spalding, a carelessly discarded cigarette started bedding on fire.

Spalding says fire crews were able to respond within four minutes of the call. They were able to get the female tenant out of the second floor apartment unit and then they put the fire out.

The woman was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation and minor burns.

Several residents of the six storey building evacuated on their own upon hearing the fire alarm.

Spalding says those residents were taken to an activity room in the adjacent retirement home.

Six people were treated by paramedics on scene.

Two were also taken to Penticton Regional Hospital as a precaution.

Spalding says damage to the apartment unit was minimal.