Vernon Fire Rescue Services responded to a fire at Polson park Motel Thursday, June 29 (photo by Pete McIntyre / Vernon Matters)

By Liam Verster & Pete McIntyre

Laundry Room Fire

UPDATE: Firefighters douse fire at Polson Park Motel

Jun 29, 2023 | 12:32 PM

Firefighters in Vernon responded to a fire at a Vernon motel across from Polson Park.

At 12:03 p.m. Thursday, June 29, dispatch notified emergency crews of a report of “heavy, black smoke” at the Polson Park Motel on 24th Avenue.

Dispatch indicated the caller was on the second floor and that the smoke appeared to be coming from the basement.

Fire crews responded, and at 12:08 p.m., a general page was issued for a structure fire at the motel which is used as a supportive housing unit.

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A number of residents were evacuated.

The fire was put out by 12:40 p.m.

Christy Poirier, manager of communications with the City of Vernon, said the fire appeared to originate from a laundry room.

“The fire was attacked and was very quickly extinguished,” Poirier told the media at the scene. “No injuries were reported in the incident and right now, crews are continuing to go through the building to make sure it’s fully evacuated and to make sure it’s getting properly vented.”

It’s not known if the residents will be displaced by the fire.

The cause is under investigation.

Poirier said it was a major response to the incident.

“It’s a motel, a larger structure, so they did call in a general alarm. When you have a fire like this and there is the potential for it expanding quickly and becoming a larger event, we call in additional resources,” Poirier explained.

Fire at Polson Park Motel on 24th Avenue (Pete McIntyre/Vernon Matters photo)