An early morning fire Friday at the former Royal Canadian Legion building in downtown Vernon is being called suspicious.
Vernon Fire Rescue Services were called to the vacant building on 33rd Street and 31st Avenue after 2 a.m.
“The fire started at the back steps at the south exit of the building,” said deputy fire chief Lawrie Skolrood.
“It burned up the canopy over the stairs and into the soffits and the attic space.
“We were able to stop it before it did too much damage.”
Skolrood said there is structural damage to tresses and the canopy was excessively burned.
He also labelled the fire suspicious as it started on the outside of the building, which has been vacant for a number of years.