An investigation continues into the discovery of a woman who was found dead in a Penticton motel on Aug. 16.
Penticton deputy fire chief Dave Spalding said firefighters were called to the Jubilee Motel to investigate after a passer-by saw smoke coming from the unit.
Spalding said the fire had already burned out and cooled off when they entered the room.
Upon finding the dead woman, Spalding said the investigation immediately was handed over to RCMP.
“We assisted with the fire investigation and it looks like smoker’s material caused the fire,” said Spalding.
“That is what everything points to at least.
“The woman did perish in the fire but we cannot determine the cause of death, that is for the B.C. Coroners Service to determine.
“The fire had been sometime earlier, about six to eight hours before we were alerted.”
Spalding said the unit where the dead body was found is on the second floor of the north building, above the caretaker’s office.
He added the bed area was badly damaged and that is where fire investigator’s believe the origin of the blaze was.
“We were able to rule out electrical and other things and come up with a probable cause of smoker’s material,” he said.
The B.C. Coroners Service is still investigating the matter.