Kamloops Fire Rescue says an exact cause of yesterday’s apartment fire on the North Shore is unknown.

The fire broke out just after midnight yesterday, at 435 Cherry Avenue, which forced the building’s several-dozen residents to be evacuated.

Fire investigator Ray Webster says there was a flashover in a third-floor unit where it started which caused a lot of destruction, and says as a result there’s no known cause or exact point of origin at this time.

He was asked if some residents could be able to return home any time soon.

“Not in the immediate future. There would have to be some electrical work done to single out that unit that has been burned, and a couple of others. As well as some work done to the roof before it could be occupied.”

Webster says two units had fire damage and a third had smoke damage, and he says units on all three floors have water damage as well.

Fortunately, all occupants were able to get out safely. Fire crews had to rescue three people from the third floor, including two people who were stuck on a balcony.