Police have been told that 3 young ladies were seen leaving the house on Main Street at about 3 am loaded down with boxes. The same gentleman, Jim Hoffman who lives in Centennial Park, says he heard 3 pops (explosions) before flames erupted at  about 6 am.

Not known if those comments are related as to cause and effect.

By 6:20 am the fire was very active, black smoke in the sky seen for miles

Fire, ambulance and police have left the scene (approx. 1:30pm) with no indication that any person had died in the fire or was buried in the rubble. At some point what is left will be cleared and more sifting through being done.

One house gutted. One office building completely washed out with smoke and water damage and major fire damage at rear. Sunrise Restoration has begun the clean up at the Murray Building and will most likely secure the area.

The next building to the north (Oliver Chronicle) suffered some water damage with computers fried according to one source. Staff had planned to work out of the Osoyoos Times for a spell but trades people got the systems up and running.

For the record: Oliver Daily News did not call this home a drug house but responded to a bulletin sent to all media in the Okanagan Valley indicating this was a “known drug house”.

Based on my experience a lot of people have lived in this building in the past few years.

On my morning encounter with the family who lived upstairs I am assured they are a busy, active family that works in the community. To my knowledge they were also very concerned about who lived below them in the basement and some of the going-ons.

We hope they get re-located soon and relief efforts work out designed to help all five of them with basic necessities.

The investigation of what caused the fire, who was in the building, who left at what time etc. is ongoing.