Vehicle fire in Penticton wakes the neighbours

PENTICTON – Explosions from a car fire gave a Penticton city councillor a rude awakening early this morning.

Max Picton, who lives at Barefoot Beach Resort, says he was woken up at around 3:15 a.m. today, March 2, to the sound of several explosions. He looked out the window to see a car burning just off Skaha Hills Drive.

“The flames were shooting pretty high. Every once in a while we could hear another explosion,” Picton says.

The vehicle was off the roadway on a shoulder beside the golf cart path leading to the new Skaha Hills subdivision.

The Penticton Indian Band Fire Department put out the fire and RCMP were on the scene.

Penticton RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says police suspect arson. They believe the vehicle may have been stolen during a break and enter at a Lee Avenue residence. 

— This story was updated at 2:30 p.m., Thursday, March 2 to provide additonal information from the RCMP.

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