Fire victim goes home

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer - Castanet

Wally Yahnke surveys the damage at his burned out home on Wilsons Mountain.

A South Okanagan resident who lost his unique underground home in the Wilsons Mountain wildfire, has finally been allowed to go home.

Wally Yahnke's home burned last Friday night. He was finally allowed on the property at 2 p.m. this afternoon.

Yahnke, who has lived on the property for 25 years, says the fire started during Friday night's storm, when lighting hit the power line right by his gate. Flames then spread to the brush below.

Firefighters did show up, but he claims they didn't do anything about the fire and would not let him fight it, even though he had a 2,000 gallon tank of water right beside the house.

The fire subsequently burned his home as well as equipment and trailers on the property.

Rob Graham, spokesman for the Oliver Fire Department, said firefighters did get in with their truck, but there was no way to safely exit, so the department had to get them out.

They also told people in that area that they needed to get out, he said.

As far as the current investigation, Yahnke said he is unsure why it is taking place.

"There's no reason it should be under investigation, because the fire was at the gate, not at my house," he said. "I feel terrible, I have nothing left." 

Yahnke is staying at his brother's Oliver home for now.

Oliver RCMP have left the property but confirmed an investigation was ongoing.