Stock photo courtesy of the Kelowna FIre Department

By Liam Verster

Fatal Fire

One person deceased following fire in Kelowna apartment

Jul 15, 2024 | 10:42 AM

One person died in a fire at an apartment building in Kelowna Friday.

The Kelowna Fire Department said crews were dispatched to an apartment building in the 700 block of Bernard Avenue just after 5 p.m., July 12, where smoke and flames were visible in a second storey window.

Firefighters knocked down the fire and contained it to the suite, though the fire department said there were some challenges so a crew remained on scene overnight to ensure the fire was fully extinguished and there were no hotspots.

Kelowna RCMP said a 42-year-old woman lost her life in the blaze, and that the General Investigative Support Team has taken over the case.

A total of 17 other residents in the building had to be relocated through Emergency Support Services following the fire. Several cats were also taken into the care of the Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team.

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The cause of the fire has not been determined.

The fatal fire was not the only call firefighters responded to over the weekend.

The Kelowna Fire Department said crews were dispatched to respond to a report on a fire on the balcony of an apartment in the 1200 block of Richter Street shortly after 5 p.m. Saturday, July 13.

Crews arrived on the scene and saw that a sprinkler had been activated on a balcony on the fourth floor, but no smoke or fire was visible.

An investigation determined there had been a small fire on the balcony, though it was contained by the sprinkler.

There was minor damage to the exterior of the building and to some items on the balcony, but no one was injured and no residents needed to be displaced.

The cause of this fire was not disclosed.