DOPE ON BARBECUE CAUSES FIRE

KELOWNA, B.C. - RCMP and firefighters are saying a blaze in a Kelowna
apartment building appears to have been caused by a tenant who was
attempting to dry a stash of marijuana on his balcony barbecue.

"The call came in as a fire on a balcony," said assistant fire chief
Lou Wilde of Sunday's fire.

"We found a fellow there who stated he had a candle on the deck and he
had a blanket and he was going to lay out there.

DRYING MARIJUANA

"There may have been a candle, but it appears he was drying marijuana
on the barbecue," Wilde said.

"He ended up catching a polyester or nylon blanket on fire.

"It looks like he was trying to stomp it out with his foot."

Wilde said the man was treated for burns to his foot, hands, chest and
face.

Wilde said the amount of marijuana he saw on the barbecue "would fill
a garbage can."

The breakfast-hour blaze forced the evacuation of the 62-unit
building.

It caused approximately $30,000 damage to the apartment complex, Wilde
said.