Second person has died, 10 displaced after apartment fire in Penticton

A second person has now died in an apartment fire in Penticton last weekend.

Emergency crews responded to a fire at 578 Lakeshore Drive at roughly 9:53 p.m. Dec. 10., according to Penticton Fire Chief Larry Watkinson. He said firefighters were on scene within three minutes of receiving the call.

In the primary search of the complex, they found one person dead, Watkinson said, and another victim who was taken to the hospital. Both were believed to have been in the same second-storey unit where the fire originated.

The victim who was taken to the hospital did not survive.

“I can confirm that the B.C. Coroners Service is investigating two deaths associated with this incident,” B.C. Coroners Service communications manager Ryan Panton said in an email.

“Sadly the people that perished in the fire had mobility issues,” Watkinson said.

The fire was contained to the unit of origin by 10 p.m. and crews were on scene until 3 a.m.

Approximately 25 firefighters responded including three officers and three large fire trucks. Ten displaced residents were taken into the care of emergency social services.

An investigation involving the RCMP and an insurance broker is underway, Watkinson said, however there is no suspicion of malice or criminal activity at this point.

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