Penticton house fire

Photo: Contributed - Brittni Miller

Emergency crews responded to a house fire on Norton Street near East Nanaimo Ave. Thursday night.

Penticton deputy fire chief Dave Spalding said the call came in at 8:40 p.m. for the fire which apparently began in the kitchen.

Two fire engines and six on shift members initially responded but they quickly upgraded the call to a three alarm fire which brought every available member to the scene.

The fire had extended from the kitchen to the attic floor above.

"It was an occupied rental home, so there were tenants there," Spalding said. "I believe it was a man and wife and a couple of pets." 

Everyone got out okay, including a dog that was trapped by smoke and heat in the basement.

The occupants are now in the care of Emergency Social Services who are supplying accommodation and supplies for the next few days.

The top floor and roof of the house was significantly damaged. It is unknown whether smoke alarms were functional at the time.

Spalding said fire investigators are on scene today trying to determine what exactly started the blaze.

Brittni Miller says, "I was driving through Penticton from the movies on Thursday night at 9 p.m., I noticed an incredible amount of smoke throughout downtown. We drove around to find out the source . . . police and fire rescue were on the scene."

Cory Nelmes reported via email, "There is a large structural fire downtown Penticton, I can see the flames and smoke. It looks like it's coming from just behind Service Canada."

The Pentiction fire department quickly brought the blaze under control. There are no reports of any injuries.

The fire is under investigation.