Flames consumed a home in Penticton on Wednesday afternoon, with heavy winds pushing the smoke throughout the entire street and challenging the fire crew’s initial response.
Penticton Deputy fire chief Rob Trousdell said that a wind-driven fire is always a concern here in the Okanagan.
"We've seen that several times. So our crews are well aware of that and you can see the way that [the smoke] was transitioning across the street so they even to the point where it affects their responses," he said
'When they got onto the street that heavy smoke was blowing down low so they had to be really careful in approaching the scene."
The residents of the home were outside by the time fire crews arrived. No injuries were reported.
"It looks like it's spread out into the attic area and caught the adjoining motorhome park beside the home."
Around 15 to 20 firefighters were on scene, getting the fire under control roughly an hour after it started. City works attended the scene to shut off the electrical power lines next to the home.
"There's no natural gas but of course there's electrical so we had a concern with the live electrical lines getting affected by the fire. So City Electrical responded and was able to disconnect those for us, making it a lot safer for people to work," Trousdell said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
UPDATE: 5:15 p.m.
Castanet reporter Casey Richardson reports smoke and fire activity has died down on Conklin Avenue as of 5:15 p.m.
Fire crews were on scene quickly at the blaze which tore rapidly through the home.
Castanet has reached out to the Penticton Fire Department for more information.
ORIGINAL: 4:40 p.m.
A house is on fire in Penticton Wednesday afternoon.
Fire crews are responding to 460 Conklin Avenue. The entire street is full of smoke.
Reporter Casey Richardson is on scene. She says fire crews are currently attempting to stop the spread to neighbouring buildings.
A neighbour told Castanet they "smelled plastic burning," the smoke got worse, then next thing they knew there was an explosive sound.
Another neighbour who called 911 said “I never knew a house could go up that fast."
There is an RV on the property in addition to the house, which is also in flames.
More to come