A search is underway for an individual unaccounted for following a structure fire in Enderby Sunday, Oct. 11.
The Enderby Fire Department was called to reports of a structure fire at a garlic farm north of the city toward Grindrod at 9:30 a.m.
Upon arrival, a tarp-covered structure on the property was fully engulfed in flames. Inside were two recreational vehicles parked side-by-side according to the property owner and an individual was living in one of them.
“There is a person that is living there, kind of off the grid, so there are propane tanks and solar panels,” said Enderby Fire Chief Cliff Vetter. “The owner of the property says the guy comes and goes so we don’t know if he’s in there. They are currently searching through the damage. RCMP remain on-scene.”
Explosions alerted the neighbours of the ongoing situation.
Neighbour Bruce Schartner said he heard “one or two explosions,” before rushing over.
“When I was there, there were several more explosions,” Schartner said.
The fire was extinguished but the investigation is ongoing.
Fire Chief Vetter said it’s still too early in the investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
Vernon North Okanagan RCMP have been contacted to learn more of the search for the unaccounted for resident.
Fire crews are dousing a structure fire on a farm about 8 km north of Enderby off Highway 97A. Neighbours say they heard several explosions around 10:30 a.m. Structure was reportedly used for storage purposes. pic.twitter.com/8RF59iSJqz
— Brendan Shykora (@brendanshykora) October 11, 2020
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