A suspicious fire set to fruit packing bins on Middleton Mountain is under investigation by the Vernon Fire Department and the RCMP.
Image Credit: Twitter/ Vernon Firefighters
July 22, 2014 - 8:17 AM
VERNON - Another suspicious fire in Vernon, this time in fruit shipping containers, has investigators combing through the rubble.
The Vernon Fire Department was called out to the 1200 block of Waddington Drive on Middleton Mountain Monday about 11:30 p.m. Tall flames and smoke could be seen from other parts of the city.
Numerous wooden apple bins stored inside a fenced compound were destroyed in the fire. Deputy fire chief Lawrie Skolrood says it appears the bins were deliberately set on fire, either through the chain link fence, or by someone who climbed over it.
It is the 22nd suspicious fire in Vernon, joining the Kin Race Track grandstands, boats, vehicles and other items as targets. Skolrood says the time and nature is consistent with the previous fires.
“I would say this is very similar to all the ones that have happened to this point,” Skolrood says.
There was a lull between this suspicious fire and the last, which was two weeks ago at Kin Race Track.
“It definitely seems like they (suspected arsonist or arsonists) are still around,” Skolrood says.
Numerous people watching the fire have already been approached by investigators, but authorities are also asking anyone who might know something about the incident to call the Vernon Fire Rescue non-emergency line at 250-550-3565 or the Vernon RCMP at 250-545-7171 or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014