UPDATE: 2:35 p.m.

Kamloops fire crews have determined the cause of a blaze this morning at The Village Hotel on Tranquille Road.

Fire inspector Ray Webster says a man fell asleep while smoking in bed.

Webster says some of the 33 occupants of the building have been allowed back in.

“The occupants of the second floor have been let back into the building, as well as the north end of the third floor. The occupants of the south end of the third floor will be out for some time, as there is some smoke damage in the hallway,” Webster says.

Five people were taken to hospital after the fire; four for smoke inhalation and one for burns.

ORIGINAL: 5:20 a.m.

Kamloops Fire and Rescue began the new year battling a blaze at the Village Hotel, home of the Duchess Nightclub, on Tranquille early Wednesday morning.

Platoon Captain Darryl Cooper says crews were called out just after 2:30am with flames coming from a 3rd floor corner window.

“There was a guy wuth his legs sticking out a third floor window. We took two guys down off the ladder. We got everybody evacuated.”

Cooper says there were 33 people evacuated from the building.

“Five people were sent to hospital. Four with smoke inhalation and one with burns. Everybody else was sent to the reception centre at McArthur Island.”

Cooper says it is too early to say how the fire started and fire investigators are on scene.

He says it was contained to the single unit on the third floor with some water damage to units below and smoke damage to the one wing of the building where the fire was located.

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