Penticton firefighters kept busy Monday afternoon

PENTICTON – Penticton firefighters were ready for action Monday when dispatch paged them to a structure fire right at a shift change.

Fire Chief Wayne Williams says the crew was able to make a quick response to Neighbourhood Auto Body on Rosetown Avenue at 5:43 p.m., yesterday, May 11.

An employee at the shop was working in the back when he noticed smoke in the front of the shop. Firefighters arrived to find light grey smoke emanating from the front two bays where they found a vehicle on fire.

Williams says firefighters were able to quickly douse the flames, limiting damage to the service bay. Fire investigators have since determined the fire was electrical in nature, and started in a vehicle that was in the shop partly because of an electrical issue.

The business remains open following the incident.

The department also responded to a wildfire in grass along Highway 97 north of the city yesterday just before 1 p.m. Williams reminds the public that very dry conditions currently exist in the region, and residents need to be careful with outdoor fires. He says yesterday’s fire, which occurred near Sage Mesa, could have been much worse. The fire was contained in a one by 25-metre strip, and was burning in light winds on the west side of Highway 97.

“Forestry also attended the fire. It’s nice to know they are there,” Williams adds.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.