Fire guts part of local supermarket

EDITOR’S NOTE: In recognition of Canada’s 150th anniversary, The Herald is reprinting historic stories from the South Okanagan focusing on the biggest news story of each year.

January 12, 1961 — Firemen at noon today hosed down the last stubborn sparks of a fire which destroyed the north end of a southside Penticton supermarket.

I.G.A Foodliner, located at 1160 Government St., was left filled with wreckage, though Fire Chief Wally Mattock said most of the building is still structurally sound.

Damage is expected to run to at least $65,000, the full amount of insurance carried. Total value of the cinder-block building and contents is close to $100,000, said partner Gordon Blackwell.

The cause of the fire is unknown. It was reported by a passerby at 7:58 a.m., and firemen shot streams of water into the store until 11:15 before the blaze was considered under control.

“Apparently it smouldered for hours,” said Chief Mattock, surveying the water-soaked charcoal ruins of the building’s stock room, where the fire started. Eggs, potatoes, soap powder, and nuts roiled sluggishly in dirty water inches deep in the floor. DENSE SMOKE Dense smoke filled the building from the start, rendering almost useless the powerful lights firemen carried as they probed for the source. Firemen had to discard smoke masks and don breathing apparatus because of lack of oxygen inside. Every air tank on hand was refilled at least twice.

Hidden by smoke, flames rooted deep in the stock room, then lodged between ceiling and roof. With chain saws and axes, the firemen ripped up the roof in a dozen places to find the flame.

Uncertain of the soundness of the roof, firemen hauled up 10-foot fir slabs and stood on them.

Despite their efforts, the northwest corner of the roof caved in.

Frozen food lockers were filled with charcoal and water, potato chips labeled “crisp” swirled in eddies on the floor, and in the farthest corner from the flames, a plastic doll sat melted in its clothes.