Hydro shutoff delays fire fighters

Photo: Contributed - Dave Ogilvie

West Kelowna Fire and Rescue responded to a single family dwelling fire Saturday night. The home was under renovation so nobody was home at the time.

Photo: Contributed - Dave Ogilvie

West Kelowna Fire Rescue quickly had a serious blaze under control, but first they had to wait for BC Hydro crews to shut off power to the dwelling.

Once they took command, the West Kelowna crews brought the fire under control in about 20 minutes, though they had to remain on site for some time afterwards due to the nature of the blaze.

Firefighters responded at about 8:20 p.m. to the fire which broke out in the basement of a dwelling on Ourtoland Road in West Kelowna.

The blaze quickly spread to the main floor of the building, then to the attic before it was extinguished, resulting in extensive damage overall.

Fortunately, the building was under renovation at the time of the fire, so nobody was residing in the home.

Cause of the fire has been listed as accidental.