Abandoned home torn down after fire

Smoke from a structure fire in West Kelowna on Sunday night was highly visible from Highway 97.

Fire Rescue crews were dispatched to the blaze at an abandoned house in the 1800 block of Ross Road around 6:30 p.m.

Deputy fire chief Chad Gartrell said firefighters were able to keep it from spreading to neighbouring properties or a surrounding field.

“For the safety of the crew, it was determined that no entry would be made into this structure for fire suppression,” Gartrell said.

“An excavator was brought in to take the building down so crews could access remaining hidden fires from a safe location.”

The deputy chief said the fire is considered suspicious, but due to the demolition and suppression activities, the cause is undetermined.