West Kelowna Fire Rescue douse a balcony fire at an apartment Thursday evening

Photo: Colin Dacre

West Kelowna Fire Rescue quickly knocked down a balcony fire at an apartment Thursday evening.

Just after 7 p.m. crews were called out to a fire on the third story balcony at 2250 Majoros Road, NEO Apartments in West Kelowna.

Units saw sparks and open flames coming from a third floor balcony when they first arrived at the scene.

“The fire was quickly knocked down with a hose stream directed up to the balcony from the parking lot on the ground floor,” said Assistant Fire Chief Brent Watson.

Crews then entered the building to attack the fire from the inside, but encountered a locked door to the vacant unit which they had to breach.

Crews found and extinguished a large wooden planter box on the balcony that was still smouldering.

Watson says there was no damage to the building itself, aside from some smoke in the third floor hallway that was cleared with fire department fans.

The fire appears to be an accident, likely caused by improperly discarded smoking material, says Watson.

No injuries were reported and all residents are now back in the building.

WKFR responded with a ladder truck, four engines, two Safeties and a Command Unit.