Bomb scare closes part of 24th Ave. in Vernon. (Liam Verster/Vernon Matters photo)

By Liam Verster & Pete McIntyre

Incident over

UPDATE: Bomb squad checks out suspicious device in Vernon home

Oct 28, 2021 | 7:30 PM

UPDATE: 7:30 p.m.

A suspicious device found inside a Vernon home turned out to not be an explosive.

The item was checked out by the RCMP’s explosive disposal unit Thursday afternoon, and after their assessment, evacuated residents in the 3700 block of 24th Avenue were allowed to return home and the road was reopened.

“The person discovering the device did the right thing by notifying police immediately,” said Constable Chris Terleski, Media Relations Officer for the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP. “Reports of any potential explosive devices must be taken seriously and all necessary precautions must be taken to ensure the safety of the public. We are very fortunate to have experts available who are trained to provide guidance and assist in dealing with suspicious devices.”

Terleski thanked residents and the public for their patience and understanding as officers worked to safely resolve the situation.

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Police were called to the site  just before 9 a.m. on Thursday. Residences in the immediate area were evacuated and the site was cordoned off to ensure public safety.

Members of the bomb squad arrived at the scene around 4:30 p.m. to remove and assess the device.

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Bomb scare closes part of Vernon street
Oct 28, 2021 | 10:44 AM

Part of a Vernon street has been closed down due to a bomb scare.

Cst. Chris Terleski with the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP says they received a report of a suspicious device located inside a residential unit in the 3700-block of 24th Ave. in Lower Mission Hill around 9 a.m.

Mounties arrived on the scene and established a containment area around the property.

Some of the neighbouring houses were evacuated as a precaution

RCMP officers have cordoned off an area within the road closure around the property where the suspicious device was discovered (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

Senior Bylaw Officer Al Harrison told Vernon Matters he arrived on the scene around 9:45 a.m. to set up a roadblock, and close off 24th Avenue between 36th and 39th Streets.

The RCMP’s explosives disposal unit, or bomb squad, has been called to deal with the incident, but as of the time of publication they had not yet arrived on the scene, with no estimated time of arrival.

“The area will remain cordoned off until the EDU team arrives to assess the situation and deal with the device appropriately,” Terleski told Vernon Matters.

“We are asking the public to avoid the area as we work to safely resolve the situation and updates will be provided as information becomes available,” added the officer.