Cause sought in condo fire
The focus has shifted from battling the flames to determining the cause of the fire that destroyed the top floor of 1000 Peaks Lodge in Panorama.
“The Fire Chief and Engineers have been on site since early this morning conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire,” says RDEK Communications Manager, Loree Duczek. “The investigation is currently focused on the unit where the fire originated and is expected to take until at least tomorrow morning to complete. The portions of the building that were not affected by fire and water damage have been turned over to the Resort’s security team, who are gathering personal belonging’s and returning them to their owners.”
Columbia Valley Rural Fire & Rescue Service Chief, Jim Miller, spoke about the severity of the blaze.
“The top floor of the complex has been destroyed by the fire,” explained Miller. “There is also some fire damage to the fourth floor and the rest of the building has sustained extensive water damage.”
Once the Fire Department has wrapped up its investigation, the insurance company and BC Safety Authority will be on scene conducting their own investigation.
The fire broke out the morning of February 27 just after 1 a.m., prompting a quick response by firefighters from the Panorama, Windermere, and Invermere Fire Departments.
Ten to twelve units were completely destroyed by the fire. At this time, all known occupants of the complex are accounted for with no reported injuries.
Damage estimates have not yet been determined.
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