Vagrancy. Traffic. Crime.
Throw in now what they're calling a suspicious fire, and residents of a Vernon neighbourhood are even more on edge.
Vernon North Okanagan RCMP, however, has said the fire – for the time being – is not suspicious in nature.
Shortly before 5 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, Vernon Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) responded to reports of a structure fire in the 2000 block of 42nd Avenue, near Harwood Elementary School. When crews arrived on scene, they confirmed a fully involved house fire, which extended into the attic.
Firefighters immediately took action to battle the blaze, but the home still sustained significant damage.
The owner of the fire-damaged home had posted a warning about suspicious activity in the area on social media a day before the fire.
"Warning. We live on 42 Avenue and woke up this morning to find two burn marks in the middle of the road, and a jug of kerosene with a screwdriver jabbed into it sitting under the exhaust of my son's work truck," said the post.
Concerned neighbours of the area said in a note to The Morning Star, "We are all strongly convinced that things in the area are going under reported so we are going to push out from our end to the groups to report everything."
One resident said Saturday evening, someone "had been reportedly going around with a torch trying to light things on fire, and now there was a fire over on 42nd this morning." Another reported to the police that "there was a puddle of oil or diesel poured under her car and leaves were piled on top of it."
Added another: "Between a vagrant four-plex, the high-volume, late-night traffic and all the crime around here, if we have to add fires and further destruction the neighbourhood is going to fall apart."
Vernon North Okanagan RCMP media liaison officer Const. Chris Terleski said Tuesday, Oct. 1, the fire is under investigation.
"Police assistance was requested by Vernon Fire Rescue Services," said Terleski, in regards to the house fire. "The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and remains under investigation. It is not considered suspicious at this time."
The City of Vernon Emergency Support Services program assisted the displaced residents.
BC Emergency Health Services, RCMP, FortisBC and BC Hydro also assisted on-scene.
