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Vernon Law Courts (Vernon Matters photo)
By Pete McIntyre
Set for sentencing

Arson suspect enters guilty plea

Feb 15, 2024 | 2:00 PM

A man has admitted to starting a fire that damaged a Vernon residence almost two years ago.

The BC Prosecution Service says Lorne William Paananen entered a guilty plea in B.C. Supreme Court in Vernon on Feb. 12 to arson causing damage to a property (a residence), contrary to section 434 of the Criminal Code.

A sentencing hearing will be held Friday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m.

Paananen, born in 1981, was arrested the day after a late-night fire damaged a townhouse in the 4200-hundred block of 20th Street in the city’s Harwood neighbourhood on July 18, 2022 Witnesses say there was an explosion prior to the fire starting.

Fire crews were able to contain the fire to one unit.

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The residences in the complex were unoccupied at the time and there were no injuries reported.

At the time, police said evidence collected during the investigation suggested the fire was intentionally set.

Mounties said a person on a motorbike was seen driving by the site at the time the explosion took place.

The actual cause of the fire was not released.

by Pete McIntyre
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