Firefighters and police were on the scene of a fire at Canadian Tire on Saturday, Nov. 19. (file photo/Vernon Matters Staff)

By Pete McIntyre

Major fire

Canadian Tire fire appears to be deliberate act: RCMP

Nov 21, 2022 | 1:59 PM

RCMP believe a fire at Vernon’s Canadian Tire store over the weekend was deliberately set.

The blaze, which was first reported around 3 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, damaged the garden centre area outside the store in the Village Green Shopping Centre and also caused unspecified interior damage as well.

“Fire crews were successful in confining and extinguishing the fire which caused serious damage to the commercial building,” Const. Chris Terleski, media relations officer for the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP, said.

Terleski said an investigation into the cause is underway, and at this point, they have reason to believe it was deliberately set.

“We are in the process of collecting video surveillance from other businesses in the area and are also asking the public for their assistance,” Terleski said. “Investigators would like to speak to anyone who was travelling through the area between 2 a.m., and 3:30 a.m., who has dashcam footage, or anyone that was taking video footage or photographs near the scene at the time of the fire.”

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Anyone with information that may assist in the investigation is asked to contact the RCMP at 250-545-7171 and quote police file number 2022-20688.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or leaving a tip online at www.nokscrimestoppers.com.

At last update, the store in the 4900 block of 27th Street was still closed to customers.

Vernon Matters has reached out for comment to Canadian Tire’s media relations department, but has yet to hear back.

(Photo credit: Vernon Firefighters Local 1517)