When Chris Erickson left his West Kelowna home Thursday as wildfire approached, he made sure to take all the proper steps, shutting off the gas, water and electricity. He did not think it would be the last time he would see his house.

The next day he saw a photo of his home in the Rose Valley neighbourhood in a local newspaper.

“You see just huge flames up in the trees, and at the bottom of the photo, you could see the roof of our house,” he said.