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By Pete McIntyre

Fire cause – and details – investigated

Aug 23, 2019 | 1:21 PM

Fire officials are trying to pinpoint the cause of Thursday’s destructive house fire in Vernon.

A home on Commonage Place sustained major damage after a blaze apparently started outside and spread to the house.

Deputy fire chief Scott Hemstad said he is conducting interviews with witnesses today and investigating at the scene.

“I don’t have much for you now, other than it’s under investigation,” Hemstad told Vernon Matters.

Security guard sits outside burned out home on Commonage Place Friday (Tiffany Goodwein/Vernon Matters)
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There is also some confusion about whether anyone was home at the time the fire broke out, with fire officials saying Thursday, no one was home, and media reports suggesting otherwise, with one outlet saying a mother grabbed her sleeping baby to flee the burning house.

Hemstad says that’s one of the aspects he is looking into.

“That’s part of what I’m working on today, to find out some answers to that question and some other answers. I can’t clear anything up because I really don’t know anything yet. I’ve got my statements from my initial arriving crew and I’m working on witness statements to try and corroborate their information as well,” added Hemstad.

As to the reports it started outside the home and spread to the house, Hemstad was unable to confirm that Friday.

“I don’t know that yet,” he said.

Back view of burned home on Friday (Tiffany Goodwein/Vernon Matters)
by Pete McIntyre
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