UPDATE: 7:55 p.m.
The Kelowna Fire Department has deemed the cause of the blaze at Houghton Road on Friday to be suspicious.
Platoon Captain Robert Skeldon said in a news release that crews were called out after receiving multiple reports of a cedar hedge fire close to a structure at 799 Houghton Road at around 4:25 p.m.
The first arriving officer reported visible flames in the cedars, which had extended into the duplex and the second floor including the attic space of the structure.
“The fire is deemed suspicious at this time and is currently under investigation by RCMP and Kelowna Fire Dept to determine a cause,” Skeldon added.
One resident of the duplex was checked out for smoke inhalation by BCAS at the scene and Skeldon said no other injuries were reported.
The Kelowna Fire Dept responded with four engines, one rescue vehicle, one command unit and 22 personnel.
UPDATE: 5:15 p.m.
The townhome fire at 799 Houghton Road appears to be largely knocked down now after the home became fully engulfed by flame just before 4:30 p.m.
The home appears to be severely damaged, with one wall completely charred by flame and sections of the roof burned through.
One woman was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation but her condition is unknown. The cause of the fire is also now known at this time, but the nearby hedges were completely burned in the fire.
UPDATE: 4:55 p.m.
One woman is being treated for smoke inhalation at the townhome fire in Rutland Friday afternoon, as fire crews continue to work to fully knock down the blaze.
Smoke continues to pour from the home, which is located in the southwest corner of the Alexander Place complex, at 799 Houghton Road.
One side of the impacted home is now completely blackened from the blaze, as flames are still visible coming from the home’s roof. The nearby hedges have been completely burned.
There appears to be two units in the impacted building.
Photo: Cindy White
The townhome has been left blackened by the fire.
ORGINAL: 4:35 p.m.
Fire crews are responding to a fire at a housing complex in Kelowna’s Rutland area Friday afternoon.
A townhome in Alexander Place, at 799 Houghton Road, is fully engulfed in large flames as of 4:30 p.m., and the fire appears to also be burning in nearby hedges and trees.
Fire crews have upgraded the blaze to a second-alarm fire, and multiple engines are headed to the scene.
Castanet will have more information as it becomes available.
Photo: Clarence Johnson
A home is burning at 799 Houghton Road Friday afternoon.
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