Firefighters douse blaze outside Vernon museum

VERNON – Firefighters were out early this morning extinguishing a fire that started behind the Vernon museum.

The Vernon Fire Department was called around 2:30 a.m. today, Sept. 9, to tackle the blaze, which appears to have started in a porta-potty and pile of tar paper behind the Greater Vernon Museum and Archives. The roof of the museum is currently being re-roofed.

Deputy Vernon Fire Chief Jack Blair says the museum itself was not affected, although there was a significant amount of smoke and flame involved.

Fire investigators will be on scene this morning attempting to determine exactly where, and how, the fire started.

The fire is being deemed suspicious until investigators know more, Blair says.

“Obviously if it was deemed suspicious that would be a huge concern but we just don’t know that at this time,” Blair says.

— This story was updated at 11:40 a.m. Sept. 9, 2016 to add a photo. 

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