A Kelowna RCMP officer, who spotted a fire at a townhouse complex on Cameron Avenue near Gordon Drive and Guisachan, early this morning, blasted his police vehicle's air horn and sirens to alert residents to the blaze.
RCMP Corporal Jesse O’Donaghey says after alerting police dispatch, he was joined by additional officers as they began to start evacuating the building.
He says “police forced their entry into as many as three separate residential units that were deemed to be in immediate danger of the spreading flames. In some cases police provided assistance to those with mobility issues from their homes.”
Fire Platoon Captain Tim Light says when crews arrived at the two storey townhouse, flames coming out the front of a ground floor deck.
He says it was well involved - and did extensive damage to six units before fire fighters got a handle on it. Two other units had minor smoke damage.
Light says BC Transit was called to supply a bus for evacuated residents of the complex, and to transport those who won't be able to return to their suites, to the Salvation Army on Sutherland Avenue.
RCMP are looking into the cause of the fire, as well as reports that one person was reportedly injured and transported to hospital.