Fire destroys part of Heritage Drive home

Toxic fumes released by a kitchen fire at a neighbour's house were enough to send a Vernon family to a hotel this weekend.

The fire broke out in the kitchen of a townhouse in the 4900 block of Heritage Drive (in The Rock subdivision) around 3:09 a.m. Sunday. Deputy fire chief Jack Blair says the single occupant was alerted by neighbours and able to exit the three floor home quickly. Unfortunately, Blair says, a cat was lost in the blaze.

Evidence suggests the fire was accidental, and might have been caused by an appliance left on in the kitchen.

Blair says the kitchen suffered extensive fire and smoke damage, but owing to quick firefighting action, the rest of the unit was spared.

Smoke spread to a nearby unit, and fire services thought it best the neighbours spent a night or two away. Emergency services were contacted to arrange accommodations.

"The smoke can be very toxic," Blair says. "Materials from the kitchen—linoleum, fiber board, countertops—it can be quite dangerous."

By the time fire services arrived, Blair says the occupant of the first building had already left. To his knowledge, the individual has checked in with RCMP.

Vernon Fire Services are continuing their investigation into the cause of the fire, which Blair says is not considered suspicious.

He expects the neighbours to be back home tonight or tomorrow.

To contact the reporter for this story email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call (250)309-5230.