The storm that rolled through the Okanagan Monday night caused a house fire in Vernon. Fire officials say a heritage house at the top of suicide hill in Vernon was hit with lightning at about 8:30 p.m. The fire broke out in the attic and crews were on the scene for a few hours. The department says they received several calls regarding lightning during the storm, but this was the only fire. No word on injuires or the extent of damage to the home.
Vernon Heritage Register - 3.1 MB PDF-----------------
Lightning causes fire at heritage home
Rachael Kimola - Castanet May 18, 2010
A lightning strike started a fire at one of the North Okanagan's heritage homes. The 100-year-old building, located in the 2000 block of 30th Avenue, took a direct hit of lightening around 8:30 p.m. Monday. Deputy Fire Chief, Lawrie Skolrood, says the strike started a fire on the roof. “It mostly stayed in the attic, but it was a very stubborn fire. The combination of old structure and new renovations made for a challenge. We had quite a time making sure the fire was extinguished,” says Skolrood. He says they did extensive salvage during the fire to make sure items such as furniture on the floor below weren't unduly damaged by the water. “It's a standard practice that we do to help protect what we
can by covering them in plastic tarps.” Skolrood says four people live in the heritage house, two of whom were home at the time. “Everyone got out okay, a neighbour alerted them to the fact the roof was on fire.” He says lightning caused house fires happen, but they are rare. “Most of the problem we have with lightning caused fires comes from wildfires. We don't get many structure fires that are lightning caused.” (Photo: Contributed - Curt Jensen)(Photo: Contributed - Teresa Deak)
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