Investigators ‘looking at the bigger picture’ as suspicious fires spike in Vernon neighbourhood

VERNON – Another suspicious fire is under investigation in the Vernon area.

This time, BX-Swan Lake firefighters were called out at 1 a.m. Aug. 19 for a report of a fence on fire near Dixon Dam Road and Tillicum Road. Fire chief Bill Wacey says about 60 feet of the 12-foot-high wooden fence was fully ablaze when crews arrived.

“It was an extremely visible fire,” Wacey says, adding the person who reported the fire saw it from the Foothills area. “It was a big glow in the dark.”

The fire was burning roughly 40 to 50 feet from a home on the property, however firefighters got the blaze under control and prevented any structural damage.

The cause has not been determined, but the fire is considered suspicious, Wacey says. This is about the twelfth suspicious fire in the BX neighbourhood since April.

The fire department is working with the Vernon RCMP to investigate each blaze individually, as well as the possibility they are connected.

“We are looking at the bigger picture,” Wacey says.

Other incidents have included hedges set ablaze, a torched camper, and a fire at the BX Creek hiking trails.

Anyone with information about the fires, or who witnesses suspicious activity, is asked to report it to the Vernon RCMP at 250-545-7171 or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston or call 250-309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.