(UPDATE: June 4 @ 12:05 pm) – The Kelowna Fire Department says the Bankhead Store off Bernard Avenue was a complete loss after a fire broke out early Sunday morning.
The KFD started receiving reports of the fire shortly before 5:30 am.
Five engines, one ladder truck, one rescue truck, one command vehicle and one safety officer responded to 1396 Bernard Ave alongside 23 firefighters.
The first arriving fire apparatus noted heavy flames coming from the rear of the building and coming from the roof at the front of the building.
Sadly, due to the construction of the older building, it was difficult to extinguish and crews spent several hours trying to extinguish it.
Unfortunately the building was a complete loss, no injuries were reported and a family living in the building were being looked after by ESS.
The Kelowna Fire Department has yet to determine what caused the fire, however, they are asking people to report any suspicious activity they may have seen in the area.
(Original story: June 4 @ 7:52 am) – A fire broke out in a small convenience store off Bernard Avenue on Sunday.
Heavy smoke could be seen coming from the corner of Highland Drive South and Bernard shortly after 6:30 am before quickly moving across the neighbourhood on the north side of Bernard.
A KelownaNow reader provided a picture showing the large, black plume of smoke that could be seen from the North End of town.
As of 7:50 am, smoke can still be seen in the area.
The Kelowna Fire Department was not available for comment when we reached out for details.
This story will be updated once the fire department releases more information.
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