Massive fire guts Penticton, B.C., care facility, triggers evacuations

May 28, 2026 | 10:09 AM

PENTICTON — A massive fire at a long-term care home under construction in B.C.’s Okanagan region has triggered tactical evacuations of nearby homes.

The City of Penticton says the fire at 453 Green Avenue was reported at around 10 p.m. Wednesday at the construction site for the three-storey wood-frame structure.

The blaze quickly escalated into a three-alarm fire, triggering a response of 60 firefighters in the region from as far away as Summerland and Naramata, more than 15 kilometres north of Penticton.

The city says crews had to evacuate 16 homes in anticipation of the fire’s spread, with four of them sustaining damage in the blaze.

No one has been reported injured, but 12 homes remain evacuated as crews note the presence of an unstable crane structure at the site that continues to pose a safety risk.

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Crews are on site to assess the situation, with the fire still active in several areas, while the unstable crane hampers suppression efforts.

The construction of the long-term care home is a partnership between the B.C. government and Kaigo Senior Living.

The project, called the Skaha Seniors Community, was expected to be completed in 2028 to hold 200 beds aimed at meeting the demand for Penticton’s growing seniors’ population.

Massive fire guts Penticton, B.C., care facility, triggers evacuations

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