UPDATE: 5 A.M. July 3
Kelowna Fire Department’s first arriving crew to the Brent’s Grist Mill heritage site found a well involved heritage building with heavy flames and smoke showing from the rear of the structure.
“Due to structural issues, crews could not initially enter but later completed primary and secondary searches confirming no casualties,” said Scott Clarke, Platoon Captain,in a press release.
“Fire cause is being investigated by RCMP and the Kelowna Fire Department.”
Four engines, one rescue unit, a safety officer and a command unit including 19 fire personnel responded to this fire.
UPDATE 7 P.M.
One of the oldest buildings in Kelowna has been destroyed by flames.
Fire crews are at the Brent Grist Mill site at the base of Dilworth Mountain, and have said that one of the historic buildings has been destroyed by flames.
The Fleming House is a rare surviving structure from the 1870s, when there was a recession throughout the province and little construction occurred, according to the City of Kelowna.
The large two-storey house was built in 1871 of large squared logs up to 35 centimeters high by 17 centimeters thick. The site was acquired by John Dilworth in 1900, and prior to 1908 he installed milled siding on the house and added plaster walls on the inside, indicating the pattern of improvements made to pioneer houses as the settlers prospered and more refined materials and techniques became locally available.
In recent years the heritage site has needed a great deal of repair and has been known to be a preferred site for transient populations pitching tents.
UPDATE: 6:40 p.m.
An old farm house was destroyed by flames, Monday evening.
The building is a white wooden structure located in Mill Creek Park, near the Rail Trail.
Fire crews remain on scene and Dilworth Drive is blocked in both directions to traffic.
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Fire crews are on scene of a large blaze at the base of Dilworth Mountain.
A building at the corner of Leckie Road and Dilworth Drive went up in flames just before 6 p.m.
Black smoke can be seen rising into the sky from Enterprise Way.
RELATED: Four separate fires at Mount Boucherie
Dilworth Drive is blocked off in both directions at the base of the hill by Mill Creek.
A reporter is headed to the scene and we will have more information when it becomes available.
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