Drug lab suspected at home that blew up
Probe of blast, fire that killed man at Westside house suggests it was being used to make drugs, say police
Drug production gone horribly wrong is now being confirmed by police as the likely cause of a dramatic explosion and fire at a West Kelowna home Wednesday night.
One man died as a result of the blast and blaze, a young couple has been airlifted to a Vancouver hospital with critical injuries and another man received only minor injuries.
“Preliminary findings, coupled with observations made by first responders to the scene, suggest the rural home was being used in the production of drugs,” said Kelowna RCMP Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.
“Although the exact cause of this house fire remains unknown at this time, RCMP strongly believe this was not the act of an arsonist and the public is not at any risk.”
The West Kelowna RCMP is now being helped by the Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response Team in the investigation.
The police are also asking anyone with information to call the West Kelowna detachment at 2500768-2880.
Those who want to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leave a tip at CrimeStoppers.net.
The police news release relaying the findings ended with a statement that no further information will be released at this time.
That means reporters weren’t able to ask police what kind of drug production is suspected, what made the house blow up or get an update on the condition of Chiara Boehlke and Aleck Villeneuve, the couple who rented the house at 3008 Elliott Rd.
Boehlke’s sister, Jordan, started a GoFundMe campaign for the couple at GoFundMe.com/west-kelowna-house-explosion.
As of Friday afternoon, 38 donors had raised $2,880 toward a $25,000 goal.
Most of the money raised came in before police released the information about the link to a drug lab.
Most of the 15 comments expressed concern for the couple and passed along well wishes for recovery.
However, one woman wrote: “Go fund yourself losers. You put all your neighbours in harm’s way with your drug lab.”
On the GoFundMe page, Boehlke’s sister said both Chiara and Villeneuve suffered “massive burns.”
“They did not have rental insurance and the fire took everything,” said Jordan.
“They will be incurring costs in Vancouver during recovery but don’t have the savings to cover it.”
The house Boehlke and Villeneuve were renting since 2015 is owned by Sarwan Gidda.
On Thursday, Gidda said Boehlke and Villeneuve were good tenants who never caused problems and always paid their rent.
He had speculated the explosion may have been caused by a barbecue propane tank.
Firefighters were first called to the explosion and fire at around 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday.
When they arrived on the scene, the house was already in flames.
The man who later died was trapped in the basement.
Firefighters found him alive but fatally burned.
Nearby resident Rob Hayward saw firefighters carry the man out of the blazing house.
“He was burnt from end to end,” he said. “Hair gone, clothes gone, skin boiling. I couldn’t believe it.”
Boehlke’s Facebook page says she works at Wicks Vape Shop in West Kelowna.
The man who died because of the explosion and fire has been identified on social media as 19-year-old David Hunt, who is listed on his Facebook page as David the Dopest, CEO of Puff Package and a flavour artist at Wicks Vape Shop.