From left, firefighters Spencer Tribbick, Grant Stevely and Travis Bolenback assess the damage during mop up of a structure fire on Tucelnuit Drive this morning. Photos by Lyonel Doherty
A single storey building that was slated to be rented out was destroyed this morning in a fire on Tucelnuit Drive.
Oliver Fire Department spokesman Rob Graham said the structure (north of Bulrush Road) was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived at approximately 5:45 a.m.
When he saw all the flames, Graham was initially concerned that someone may have been in the building, but fortunately nobody was occupying the structure, which was being renovated in preparation for rental accommodation. It is believed the building was previously used as a warehouse for a turkey farm.
Graham said they suspect the fire was electrical in nature, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet.
He pointed out that it took a couple of hours to knock the blaze down because of the challenge dealing with old sawdust in the ceiling, and the metal roof provided no ventilation for the heat. Firefighters had to use a chainsaw to cut vents in the ceiling.
Graham said nobody was injured during the fire.
Corporal Christina Tarasoff from the Oliver RCMP said the blaze was not suspicious and most likely started due to an electrical issue.
Rookie firefighter Carl Byrne sprays water inside a vent hole in the building, while grapes await harvesting on the property.
