RCMP says Penticton construction site fire was arson

The RCMP confirmed that the May 27 fire at a construction site on Green Avenue in Penticton, British Columbia, was an arson. The blaze, which engulfed a three‑storey, 46,000‑square‑foot long‑term care facility under construction, reached third‑alarm status within minutes and was visible from Okanagan Falls.

Highway 97 was shut down for several days and ten nearby homes were evacuated while crews dealt with an unstable crane on the site. RCMP Superintendent Beth McAndie praised the rapid response of frontline officers, the fire department, Emergency Support Services and other agencies. An investigation is underway; the cause has been ruled arson, but the perpetrator remains unidentified.

The RCMP will provide further updates as the investigation progresses.