UPDATE House fire deemed suspicious, investigation turned over to RCMP

UPDATE 10 a.m. Oct 23

The cause of a fire at an unoccupied house in Vernon this week is being treated as suspicious with the exact cause not yet known.

Vernon Fire Rescue has turned the investigation over the RCMP due to the possibility of criminality.

The fire broke out at the boarded-up structure on Highway 97 at 39th Avenue Wednesday morning (Oct. 21) and it smouldered throughout the day.

For safety reasons, the building was torn down later that day and removed from the lot the next day.

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“Due to the structural integrity of the building, it was unsafe for our fire personnel to enter the main part of the house to fully extinguish the fire. This is why a trackhoe was brought in to tear down the structure, in order to help fully extinguish the fire and make the area safe for the public,” said Christy Poirier, communications manager for the city.

The city could not release information on the owner of the house.

The structure was built in 1901 and had been on the city’s heritage house registry until 2005 when it was removed.

It had been linked to drug activity in recent years and many people considered it an eyesore.

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UPDATE 5:00 p.m. Oct. 21

The Vernon house damaged by a fire this morning is no more.

A crew levelled the more than 100 year old house Wednesday afternoon.

There has been no update on the cause of the fire.

UPDATE 1:15 p.m.

Firefighters have contained a fire that caused significant damage to a boarded up, two-storey house on the corner of Highway 97 and 39th Avenue.

The building was fully involved with flames coming out the roof when fire crews arrived this morning, with no one injured and the cause under investigation.

There continues to be hot spots in the house that was built in 1901 and had been on the city’s heritage register until 2005 when it was removed.

It most recently has been connected to drug activity.

“Due to the nature of the fire, we have not been able to gain complete access to the interior of the building,” said Deputy Chief Dwight Seymour. “To help us gain additional access, check for hot spots, and aid in the fire investigation, we have had a trackhoe brought in to remove portions of the building.”

Approximately 20 firefighters responded to the scene and managed to contain the fire before it spread to neighbouring structures which include a Tim Hortons.

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UPDATE 9:30 a.m.

Fire crews have  a house fire in Vernon under control, but it is still burning.

Crews are now dousing the hot spots and waiting for equipment to arrive to conduct some demolition.

“Firefighters have not been able to gain full access to the interior of the structure yet, so heavy equipment will be brought in to pull portions of the building apart to provide better access,” said Christy Poirier, communications manager with the city.

The blaze broke out at the abandoned house, which has been known for drug activity in recent years, at Highway 97 and 39th Avenue around 7:30 a.m. (Oct. 21).

Vintage Vernon said on Facebook the house was built in 1901 according to the Greater Vernon Museum and Archives.

“It used to be a designated heritage property but was deleted off the register in 2005,” said the posting.

The cause is under investigation and no injuries have been reported as a result of the fire.

Multiple apparatus and about 15 firefighters are currently on scene, as well as RCMP, BC Ambulance Service and BC Hydro.

Drive BC said the right hand lane northbound on Highway 97 is closed for the fire crews.

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UPDATE  8 a.m.

Traffic on Highway 97 (32^nd Street, between 39^th and 41^st Avenues) has been reduced to single lane in both directions, as firefighters respond to a structure fire.

The fire broke out in a two-story single family residence on the corner of 32^nd Street and 39^th Avenue early Wednesday morning.

Multiple fire apparatus and firefighters are on scene, as well as RCMP and BC Ambulance Service.

For the safety of the public and emergency personnel, please avoid the area and take an alternative north-south route through Vernon, if possible.

There is no word on the cause.

The residence has been known as a drug house.

More information will be released as it becomes available.

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Traffic is being rerouted after a fire this morning (Wednesday) in an abandoned house on the corner of Highway 97 and 39^th Ave.

Several fire trucks are on scene and crews appear to have the fire under control. A lot of smoke is visible coming from the building.

Vernon Matters is looking into the cause of the fire and will have more details as they become available.