The fire at a construction site on Green Avenue which sent flames shooting into the sky of Penticton is being investigated by the RCMP.
Mounties say following the evacuation of workers and residents in the nearby area, investigators met significant delays in accessing the site due to major safety hazards.
The scene was deemed safe to enter on Wednesday June 3, 2026, allowing specialized fire investigators from the RCMP and the Penticton Fire Department to complete the examination of the scene.
The RCMP considers the fire suspicious and are conducting a criminal investigation. Police say they are exploring every possible avenue to gather the necessary evidence to determine the cause of the fire and identify those responsible for what they are considering a case of arson.
Residents of the 10 properties that were forced to evacuate last Thursday were also allowed to return home on Wednesday.
The blaze began at the construction site of a long-term care facility and caused significant damage to a crane. Because of the damage to the crane, first responders were concerned about a collapse which led to the evacuation order and state of emergency being extended.
Engineers on site have since deemed the crane stable, leading to the removal of the state of emergency, said Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield.
“The engineers came out, they took a look at the crane and they checked it out and they said it’s burnt, but it’s safe and are putting together a plan to take it down and everything’s returning to normal. It means that the fire investigators can now go on site and do a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire.”
The city is still restricting access to the area and is asking residents to continue to avoid the area if possible while crews continue their response. RCMP remain at the scene as investigations into the fire continue.
