Police investigate fire at an Okanagan legal grow op

Lake Country and Kelowna fire crews battled a blaze in Ellison Monday, Sept. 7. (District of Lake Country photo)

The RCMP is investigating how a legal cannabis grow-op near the Kelowna airport caught fire over the weekend.

The blaze, which started early Monday, was sparked very near to the Ellison Fire Department, located on Old Vernon Road.

Deputy chief Todd Bannatyne said the fire was difficult to extinguish because of the high winds in the area.

The fire started just before 7 a.m. and cleanup finished at around 4:30 p.m.

Bannatyne said when crews first arrived on scene, the outside of the building was already on fire, with flames climbing up into the eaves.

“It was a full defensive attack, which means we fought it from the exterior,” Bannatyne said.

He added that crews and equipment from the Lake Country and Joe Rich fire departments had to be called in to help douse the fire.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown.