Kelowna structure fire sends one firefighter to hospital

KELOWNA – One firefighter was sent to hospital yesterday morning after responding to a structure fire in Kelowna

Kelowna Fire Dispatch were on the scene of a roof fire coming from a two-storey building in the 2000 block of Pandosy Avenue. A media release says crews received the 9-11 call at about 11:57 a.m.

When they first arrived on scene they could see smoke coming from the roof but no visible flames. 

An entry team went into the second floor where there were three small suites, and it was billowing with smoke. 

Some of the crew started opening up the ceiling to check for the fire's origin, while others trenched the roof to cut the fire off.

At one point an explosion blew off a piece of the siding from the building, striking the firefighter in the chest and shoulders.

The firefighter remains in stable condition at Kelowna General Hospital.

The fire was caused by roofer’s torches while putting a new roof on the building.

ESS was called to care for the tenants and owner of the building. Four people in all have been displaced.

The building was insured.

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