UPDATE 9:25 a.m.
932 BC Hydro customers are without power because of the downtown fire.
The outage runs north to south from 30th Avenue to 25th Avenue and west to east from 38th Avenue to 28th Avenue. Power was lost when the fire started at 2:30 a.m.
BC Hydro is on scene.
Original
A large structure fire has broken out in downtown Vernon.
The blaze started around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday as Vernon Fire Rescue Services were dispatched to the 2800 block of 30th Street. Upon arrival, crews found a fully engulfed structure fire, involving multiple buildings.
Fire services have every resource they have available on site, including help from the Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department.
Residents that live in the Kekuli Centre apartments have been evacuated as a precaution.
All members of the public are asked to avoid the area. The following roads are closed to all vehicle and pedestrian public:
- 30th Street between 25th Avenue (Highway 6) and 30th Avenue;
- 29th Street between 28th and 30th Avenues;
- 27A Avenue between Highway 6 and 28th Avenue.
On top of fire crews, the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP, BC Ambulance Service, BC Hydro, FortisBC, and city utilities are also on scene. The city has also deployed its Emergency Operations Centre.
More to come.
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