UPDATE: Shed goes up in flames near Hwy 97, Richter Street

| May 29, 2023 in Kelowna

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(UPDATE: May 29 @ 5:45 pm) - The Kelowna Fire Department has deemed the shed fire on Saucier Avenue as "suspicious."

There was extensive damage to the shed and a fence bordering the property.

Three neighbouring properties were also damaged, and the investigation is ongoing. 


(UPDATE: May 29 @ 4:05 pm) - Initially, this blaze looked far worse than it ended up being.

A shed behind the home at 756 Saucier Ave. went up in flames shortly before 2:30 pm and sent up a massive black plume of smoke that looked disastrous.

After all, the fire was only 100 metres from the gas station at the southeast corner of Highway 97 and Richter Street.

"We were able to put it out pretty quickly because we had fire engines in the area that were here quickly," said Kelowna assistant fire chief Mike Walroth.

"There were multiple 911 calls because there was a lot of smoke. What ended up destroyed was a shed and a fence, but there was a lot of stuff packed in the shed -- lots of miscellaneous household items. And there were full garbage bags stacked beside the shed.

At this point, the cause of the fire is "undetermined" and an investigator will look into it more now that the fire is out.

Residents of the home were not around at the time of the fire.

No one was injured.

The fire department responded to the blaze with three fire engines, what's called a bush truck and 17 firefighters.

Because the shed and fence were in the back alley, firefighters had to attach a long hose to the hydrant on the street to access water to douse the fire.

"That's common with alley fires that are farther from a hydrant," said Walroth.


(Original story: May 29 2 2:38 pm) – A fire has broken out near off Harvey Avenue Monday afternoon.

The fire appears to be located near the Central Green apartment complex at the corner of Richter Street and Harvey Avenue.

A large plume of dark smoke was visible shortly after 2:30 pm before quickly moving across the downtown area.

The Kelowna Fire Department was not available for comment when KelownaNow staff reached out for more information.

This is a developing story and more information will be provide once the fire department releases more details.

KelownaNow has a reporter headed to the scene.

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