Keremeos bistro closed after fire

Photo: Contributed - Keremeos Fire Department

Keremeos fire crews’ battled flames and the public last night when a fire broke out in the top floor of the Riverbed Bistro.

Volunteer Fire Chief Jordy Bosscha says his team got the call just after 7:00 p.m. Saturday evening.

“Flames were venting from two sides of the top floor, the crew was able to knock it down fairly quickly, but there is extensive damage,” says Bosscha.

He says there is extensive damage to the upper floor and some water and smoke damage to the restaurant down stairs meaning the bistro will be unable to open today.

The cause of the fire is under investigation and it is not known at this time if it suspicious in nature.

“Without a doing an investigation it is pretty hard to tell but we will be back in there sometime today with the RCMP and if not the RCMP the insurance company will have someone in there,” said Bosscha.

There were fortunately no injuries as no one was in the four upstairs units at the time of the fire.

“I think they are remodeling or painting or something so I don’t believe anyone was in the upstairs units at the time,” explained Bosscha.

He also mentions that a frustrating part of the evening was the amount of the public risking themselves and firefighters by going around set up barriers.

“We did have a number of the traveling public going through our scene which created a lot of concern for fire fighters,” said Bosscha.

“We ask that whenever there is a fire and the trucks are blocking the road please do not drive around them, they are blocking the road for a reason.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. 

Send photos and video to [email protected].