Flames over 30 feet

UPDATE: 1:50 p.m.

A fire that tore through a house in Peachland would not have been survivable if anyone was home. 

Peachland fire chief Dennis Craig said crews were faced with a large, intense fire with flames completely burning through the roof on the entire back of the house.

“Crews were met with dense smoke under tremendous pressure coming out both ends of the house,” he said. 

Residents living across the street watched as the flames rapidly grew on Monday and their concerns worsened. 

“I could feel the heat on my face and that’s just a couple hundred feet away,” said neighbour Ken Janes. 

Janes thought at one point, they might lose control of the fire. 

“Because of the wind I was afraid that it was going to catch into the trees if they hadn’t gotten here when they did, the flames were at least 30 feet above the ridge when it was at its worst,” said Janes.

Firefighters were concerned about the surrounding homes and worked to contain the fire. 

The family luckily was not at the home during the fire, but they lost everything.

“They literally have the clothes on their backs,” said Craig. 

Neighbours tried to enter the home and save two of the cats, but unfortunately, they have not been found. 

Craig says there is extensive damage to the house and it won’t be salvaged. The cause is still being investigated, but fire investigators believe the fire started inside the home and it isn't suspicious. 

“It’s very tinder dry around here and it is a concern…,” said Janes. 

Residents are being reminded by firefighters to fire smart their home. 

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ORIGINAL: 11:30 a.m.

Firefighters were back at the scene of a house fire Tuesday morning after a raging blaze took over the residence on Desert Pines Avenue.

Area residents noticed a cloud of dark smoke from the fire just before 5 p.m. Monday.

Crews rushed to the home, and when they arrived were faced with large flames bursting out of the home.

A man identifying himself as the homeowner on social media said is out of town in Red Deer, Alta., for school. 

“We will get through this. A lot of memories lost, but a lot more to make,” said Brad Boa. 

According to witnesses, no one was home at the time of the fire and neighbours tried to get the pets out of the home. The three cats may not have survived.

Firefighters were called back to the blaze on Tuesday morning after the fire flared up a bit. 

Castanet is heading to the scene to speak with Peachland Fire Chief Dennis Craig to get an update on the fire.