Possible arson at Gatzke farm

LAKE COUNTRY – The owners of Gatzke Orchards are hoping someone knows how a suspicious fire started on their property Monday night.

According to a post on their Facebook page, the fire started on the south end of the property on May 11 but was noticed before it could spread out of control.

“Feeling a little down this morning…. If anyone has ANY information regarding an intentional fire started on the south end of our property last night please contact us immediately,” the post says. “Two cars were seen fleeing our property and down Pelmewash around 11 p.m. Police will be back this afternoon. Luckily we were able to catch (the fire) before it spread too badly.”

The fire started next to a metal container used to store merchandise and furniture during the winter. Lake Country Fire Department Deputy Chief Brent Penner says it originated in a stack of plastic chairs outside the container and the metal got so hot some items inside combusted.

It is still under investigation but considered suspicious at this time.

"There was no electrical or gas in the area where the fire started that would be a possible cause," Penner says.

RCMP Cpl. Joe Duncan says a man from Lake Country who was driving down Pelmewash Parkway saw the fire, pulled over and helped keep it from spreading.

He says the cause is currently listed as arson but the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.