Local News

_{The neighborhood Nap's Laundromat was left in a heap of rubble following the blaze which began at around 8:00 p.m. Monday night. Photo: contributed}Fire crews are just now concluding a Lumby fire which leveled a two story structure on Vernon Street.

Nap’s Laundromat and two upper floor apartments are a complete loss after fire crews were called to a blaze at around 8:30 p.m. Monday night.

“We’re still putting the hoses in and putting the trucks back in service,” said Lumby Fire Chief Tony Clayton, adding, “we just left there an hour ago.”

Clayton says when fire crews arrived there was a lot of flame towards the back of the building.

“Our first priority was protecting the natural gas meter and our second was to protect the neighboring building - an accounting office - approximately two feet away from the structure,” he says.

No on was hurt in the as-yet undetermined blaze although at least two people are thought to have lived in the upper floor apartments and escaped. Fire crews managed to get the blaze under control at around 2:00 a.m. Tuesday.

Heavy equipment was brought in to knock down the structure as previously inaccessible walls were threatening to cave in.

“It was an ugly fire to fight,” says Clayton.

“The structure had sawdust insulation and the building itself had been added onto many times. An exterior attack on the main building was a priority,” he says.

A public works crew on site provided support to firefighters who came from all corners of the North Okanagan including B.X., Lavington and Coldstream firefighters.

“They looked after putting sand on the ice and helping in any way they could. We had EHS on scene, and RCMP assisting,” he says.

The real community support, however, was delivered via local businesses who lent a hand in another neighborly way.

“The neighboring businesses really helped us out. We had Sister’s restaurant bringing us sandwiches and coffee, Super A foods gave us a box of goodies and the Lumby Mac’s store (Shell store) stayed late and made sure there was coffee well into the night. A local resident made us muffins and later Sister’s restaurant brought us breakfast to the scene,” he added.

Fire investigator Dean Wakefield is expected to determine a cause following a complete investigation.