No cause for devastating Northern Lite fire

KELOWNA – Fire investigators say the damage to Northern Lite’s manufacturing facility was so extensive, there are no clues left as to what started the massive blaze.

Firefighters were called to 322 Totem Ave. early Wednesday morning and found heavy smoke pouring from the facility.

They hit the blaze hard with about 40 firefighters but the blaze got to the roof. 

"Due to the volatile nature of the fire and fuel load within, the fire soon consumed the entire roof of the structure causing a collapse," Deputy Fire Chief Larry Hollier said on Wednesday.

No firefighters were inside the building when the roof came down.

Fire investigators from the Kelowna Fire Department, along with representatives for two insurance companies, have wrapped up their investigation.

“There has been no determination of cause or origin,” platoon captain Dale Calhoun says. “An area of the origin within (the building) was determined, but excessive heat and the roof collapse… left few indicators as to the cause.”

Roughly 25 employees at the truck camper-building business are out of work until a new space can be found.

Campion Marine president Brock Elliott has offered Northern Lite their shop, staff and materials so the company can continue to fill orders while the owner deals with the fallout from the fire.

To contact the reporter for this story, email aproskiw@infotelnews.ca, call 250-718-0428.