
UPDATE 3:04 P.M.
A house fire in the East Kelowna area Sunday morning is not deemed suspicious.
“The Kelowna Fire Department would like to remind the public to collect fireplace ashes in a metal
container and to make sure the ashes are cold before disposing of them,” said Tim Light, Kelowna Fire Department Platoon Captain.
When firefighters arrived they found the garage of the home in the 2100 block of Diamond Road fully involved.
“Quick actions by the first unit slowed the progress of the fire allowing firefighters to enter the structure and limit the damages on the inside of the home to mostly smoke and water damage,” said Light. “An aggressive salvage of personal belongings was done by the inside team to protect family heirlooms and some irreplaceable items.”
UPDATE 1:13 P.M.
At least three fire trucks, an ambulance, police and a crew from Fortis have responded to the blaze on Diamond Road according to witness Chad Jones who was heading home from church and stopped to assist the family in the house.
“Me and another vehicle pulled up at the same time. We knocked on the door and helped them get out. I don't think they knew there was a fire,” said Jones. “We helped them grab a few things to get out of house. It was taking off pretty quick.”
Jones said he helped the couple and their adults daughter grab jackets to keep warm before fleeing the home.
“It started just behind the garage. It was attached to so it did spread to the house,” said Jones, adding when he arrived at the scene at 11:40 a.m., there were flames shooting into the sky.
“There was smoke billowing through the whole house,” he said, adding everyone got out safely.
Emergency crews remain on scene.
Fire crews have been called to a blaze at Diamond Road off Stewart Road East.
The fire broke out sometime before noon Sunday.
According to witnesses, the fire started in a garage and threatened to spread to the adjacent house.
Castanet will have more information as soon as it become available.
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