RCMP investigating ‘suspicious’ late night fire at Airport Inn in Lake Country

RCMP are on the scene investigating a late night fire at the infamous Airport Inn along Highway 97 in Lake Country.

Investigators are considering the fire as suspicious and were called to assist Lake Country Fire Department around 12:30 am on Friday morning.

The building’s north end was completely engulfed in flames when emergency crews first arrived on scene and RCMP have since confirmed all the tenants residing in the building are accounted for and no one was injured.

“Lake Country RCMP have since secured the property as the Fire Department and RCMP Fire investigators continue to examine the scene in order to determine the cause of the fire,” stated Kelowna RCMP Cst. Lesley Smith

“Although this investigation is in its early stages, the circumstances surrounding the fire are being considered suspicious in nature.”

In August, city council voted to effectively shut down the business, giving the property owner until Oct. 7 to board up the building and erect a fence around the perimeter.

However, the large property located along Highway 97 has become a makeshift shelter for the homeless and transient population in Lake Country, complicating the process of boarding up the building.