The owner watching as Vernon Fire Rescue extinguishes the car fire on 27th Street (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

By Liam Verster

"Opened the door and saw the smoke"

Car ignites while driving in Vernon’s north end

Jun 20, 2025 | 2:42 PM

A car caught fire disrupting traffic on 27th Street Friday afternoon.

The car was heading north when the fire started shortly before 2 p.m. The owner told Vernon Matters he didn’t know anything was wrong until he heard shouting from the side of the road about smoke coming out of the car.

“It wasn’t until I opened the door that I saw smoke coming out,” Laurie Payne told Vernon Matters.

A firefighting engine and crew attended the scene and extinguished the blaze, which was near the Bannister GM in the 4700 block of 27th St.

Police blocked off the northbound lanes and the incident caused a traffic jam that spanned several blocks.

Council grants

Vernon to distribute over $50k in Council Discretionary Grants, $20K to the food bank

Dec 14, 2025

Possible firearm involved

One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream

Dec 13, 2025

Fatal Collision, Highway Closed

One person dead in crash near Revelstoke

Dec 13, 2025

The fire was completely extinguished and the car was being removed from the road shortly after 2:20 p.m.

There were no apparent injuries as a result of the fire.

Vernon Matters has requested more details from Vernon Fire Rescue.