No one was hurt in a fire that ripped through a vacant two-storey house on Highway 97 in Vernon, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020 on 32 Street and 39 Avenue.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / City of Vernon
Republished October 21, 2020 - 2:01 PM
Original Publication Date October 21, 2020 - 9:30 AM
No one was hurt in a fire that ripped through a vacant two-storey house on Highway 97 in Vernon today.
Firefighters were called to the boarded-up home on 32 Street and 39 Avenue at around 7:30 a.m. today, Oct. 21, according to a City of Vernon media release. The fire was fully involved and was already into the roof space when crews arrived.
Fire crews contained the fire before it had a chance to spread to neighbouring buildings.
“Due to the nature of the fire, we have not been able to gain complete access to the interior of the building,” deputy fire chief Dwight Seymour said in the release. “To help us gain additional access, check for hot spots, and aid in the fire investigation, we have had a track hoe brought in to remove portions of the building.”
Traffic southbound on Highway 97 have been reopened to traffic while a section of the northbound lane remains closed. The City doesn't say when it will reopen.
A ladder truck with a seven person crew remain on the scene.
No one was hurt and the cause of the fire is unknown.
Reports posted to social media show that the fire is burning in an old property that has been boarded-up for several years. In July 2018, Vernon raided the property and arrested several individuals on suspicion of drug trafficking. The property was boarded up following the raid.
Vernon fire crews can be seen battling a blaze at a home in downtown Vernon, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 20202.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK / Rosana Cz
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / City of Vernon
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / City of Vernon
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / City of Vernon
— This story was updated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020 to include additional information from the City.
— This story was updated at 1:57 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 to include new information from the City.
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