Highway 97 remains closed the morning after a massive fire at an under construction long-term care facility in Penticton late on May 27.
Crews were called to the Green Avenue West construction site at 10:12 p.m., and by 10:22 the fire reached third-alarm status, with the flames visible as far as Okanagan Falls.
Multiple fire departments responded to the property, formerly the David Kampe estate, which broke ground on construction of a multi-story long-term care facility in November 2025.
According to a City of Penticton news release, the Naramata, Summerland, Kaleden and Penticton Indian Band fire departments provided mutual aid to the 48,000 square-foot structure under construction.
The highway, which is designated as Channel Parkway for the stretch along the Okanagan River Channel, was closed in both directions. Police officers stationed on the road turned drivers back, and DriveBC advised travellers to take alternate routs and to watch for traffic control.
The closure of the highway remained in effect as of Thursday morning, May 28, but had been partially opened to single-lane, alternating traffic. The City of Penticton advises motorists to continue to avoid the area if possible.
A total of 60 firefighters responded, and crews remained on scene in the morning engaging in fire suppression efforts.
“This incident required a rapid, coordinated response, and crews acted quickly to limit further damage and protect surrounding homes,” said Mike Larsson, fire chief. “While significant progress has been made, there are still active fire areas on site. The unstable crane remains a key hazard and continues to affect suppression efforts. Our focus remains on maintaining safety for both residents and responders.”
The neighbourhood around the construction was also closed off during the night, with a road closure also took effect at Brandon Avenue and Paris Street over to Green Avenue, behind the Penticton Walmart.
Four homes in the sustained fire damage, with a further 12 that were evacuated and remain evacuated due to the unstable crane structure at the construction site.
Emergency Support Services for the city was activated to assist the residents, and anyone displaced who has not yet connected and requires ESS support may call 250-486-1890.
“Our thoughts are with the residents who have been impacted by this fire,” said Mayor Julius Bloomfield. “We are grateful for the professionalism and dedication of all responding crews and partner agencies. The safety of our community remains our top priority, and we will continue to support those affected as response efforts continue.”
FortisBC, RCMP and B.C. Emergency Health Services.
Embers from the fire were visible reaching hundreds of metres into the air, and photos from those at the scene showed the fire at one point crossing Green Avenue.
According to the City’s news release, six spot fires were identified and contained after embers travelled several blocks away.
No injuries have so far been reported, and the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
With files from Logan Lockhart.