Vernon firefighters douse wildland, grass fires over weekend

Vernon firefighters quickly tackled two fires this weekend and are warning residents to be more cautious.

Both fires were human caused. The first was a small wildland fire at the base of Turtle Mountain on Saturday, the second a grass fire in the 3100 block of 48 Ave just before noon this morning.

Vernon Fire Rescue Services issued a warning for everyone in the Thompson-Okanagan.

“Looking at the weather forecast for this week, we know we’ll be experiencing even higher temperatures and sustained heat throughout the region,” said Deputy Chief Alan Hofsink. “Therefore, it’s critical that everyone is aware of their surroundings, careful about the activities they’re doing outside, and that they report fire or smoke to 911 immediately, if they see it. We need to work together to keep our community safe from fire hazards all year long, but we must be even more cautious during these hot Okanagan summers.”

Over the last several days, daytime temperatures have increased significantly throughout the North Okanagan, drying out ground materials and shrubbery. The fire danger rating in Vernon is currently listed as high.

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