The fire that destroyed a Rutland landmark has been deemed accidental by the Kelowna Fire Department.

Late in the evening on Tuesday, Oct. 6, Olympia Taverna on Highway 33 went up in flames. A waiter and another staff member were playing cards in the restaurant after closing, when they started to smell smoke, shortly after 10 p.m.

When they opened the restaurant91裸聊视频檚 back door, they saw flames burning up to the roof.

According to Paul Johnson, fire prevention officer with the Kelowna Fire Department, the fire was not malicious in nature.

91裸聊视频淥ur investigator and the RCMP determined that there was no criminality involved,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淚t started up in the restaurant91裸聊视频檚 mechanical room, up on the second level. We couldn91裸聊视频檛 actually access that area, where there was a fan unit, due to safety concerns. But there was no indication that it was suspicious in nature.91裸聊视频�

Olympia co-owner Mike Koutsantonis said it was a relief to hear the fire was accidental in nature.

91裸聊视频淲e kinda knew - we hoped - that it was accidental and that someone didn91裸聊视频檛 light it up on purpose,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淣ow it91裸聊视频檚 just a matter of talking to the insurance company to see where we can move forward on this.91裸聊视频�

Koutsantonis said they91裸聊视频檝e been thinking about rebuilding and they know for sure they will do that in the future.

91裸聊视频淲hat it91裸聊视频檚 going to look like, we don91裸聊视频檛 know yet. That91裸聊视频檚 going to be a little bit down the road.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 just good to know it wasn91裸聊视频檛 intentional. It91裸聊视频檚 always a good thing no one had bad intentions,91裸聊视频� he said.

READ: 91裸聊视频業t91裸聊视频檚 devastating91裸聊视频�: Olympia Taverna owner speaks on restaurant loss