Eight people displaced after overnight fire

KELOWNA – Kelowna Fire Department says eight people had to find another place to sleep last night after they were evacuated from a duplex because of a fire on Graham Street.

Platoon Capt. Dennis Miller says they were called around 1 a.m. to a report of a couch on fire in a carport. When they arrived they found an easy chair on fire and it had already impacted the duplex. They managed to keep it to just one side structure though. The eight residents and two dogs are under the care of Emergency Social Services for the time being.

"It was fortunate all occupants were able to get out to safety on their own accord," Kelowna Fire Department Deputy Chief Larry Hollier said in a press release.

The investigation into the fire has concluded and though it was determined the cause was indeed a cigarette ingiting the furniture, it was also determined smoke alarms didn't activate.

Three engines, one rescue vehicle, one command vehicle and a safety officer responded to the scene with assistance from ambulance, police and Fortis.

The Kelowna Fire Department reminds people to properly dispose of cigarettes, to be deligent about not allowing embers coming into contact with combustable materials and to check smoke alarms to ensure they're working properly.

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

— This story was updated at 10:13 a.m., Friday, Sept. 5, 2014 to add a photo.

— This story was updated at 1:15 p.m., Friday, Sept. 5, 2014 to include details from a Kelowna Fire Department press release.