Police investigate suspicious blaze
A police car sits outside a home in the 1800 block of 43rd Street. The residence was the site of a suspicious fire.
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A fire in a South Vernon home may have suspicious origins.
RCMP are currently investigating a blaze that broke out in a duplex unit in the 1800 block of 43rd Street Saturday just before 11:30 p.m.
“Police are treating the residence as a crime scene,” said Staff-Sgt. Cam Percy in a press release.
“An initial assessment of the scene indicated the fire may have been deliberately set.”
Investigators conducted a detailed examination of the building Monday, and few details are being divulged about why the incident appears suspicious.
“There are just some circumstances in the residence that give us that indication. Our guys noticed it right away,” said Dean Wakefield, an investigator with the Vernon Fire Department.
Police officers were stationed outside of the residence after the blaze to maintain the integrity of the scene.
No one was home when the firefighters responded to the call Saturday, but a dog was located inside.
“Smoke was showing and the crew went in and did an initial attack,” said Wakefield.
“There was pretty quick knock-down from our guys.”
Between $10,000 and $15,000 in damages was done to the unit.
“There was a lot of heat and smoke damage throughout,” said Wakefield, adding that the worst was in the basement.
The fire did not spread to the adjacent duplex unit.
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