‘Worst decision I’ve ever made’: Vernon arson suspect apologizes for fire and explosion

A publication ban imposed for the sentencing prohibits media from identifying any victims or witnesses in the case.

No one was injured in the incident, as no one was in the three-unit apartment building in the 4200 block of 20th Street at the time.

Acker said Paananen was aware that the complex was unoccupied on July 18, 2022, the night he started the fire.

“There was absolutely no intent to harm anyone,” Acker said.

The defence attorney also stated Paananen had no financial incentive or revenge motive to start the fires, but it was a matter of him being addicted to drugs amidst going through some personal problems.

“He was pretty clear in his explanation to me: the combination of difficulties he was experiencing at that time, particularly with the passing of his close friend, and some other difficulties, combined with drug dependencies, led to a temporary breakdown.”

Acker said Paananen has taken several programs and been a model prisoner while in custody at the Okanagan Correctional Centre, adding he is remorseful for what he did and is not a high risk to re-offend.

Paananen then stood up and addressed the court.

“This was by far the worst decision I have ever made in my life,” Paananen told Justice Hardwick. “It’s caused more than I can ever get back, or ever will get back. I just want to say that I am deeply sorry.”

Crown lawyer James Bagan recommended a sentence of four, to four-and-a-half years.

“What that effectively does, is it’s an additional two years less a day of keeping Mr. Paananen in provincial custody.”

Bagan also suggested three years of probation once Paananen is released, while the defence called for two years of probation.

The Crown outlined the facts, saying on July 18, 2022, CCTV video showed Paananen taking two jerry cans from a camper in the yard and then siphoning gas from the camper and an ATV into the cans.

“These are very clear videos. They are very high quality, showing what Mr. Paananan looked like, what he was wearing, the tattoos on his arms,” Bagan explained.

A video camera at the back of the house showed Paananen unhooking a propane tank from a neighbour’s yard and taking it back to his yard.

“At 10:50 that evening, there was a large explosion from the house. It blows out the front windows of Unit B. There is glass and debris across the driveway and on the street. This explosion is captured on another neighbour’s video,” Bagan said.

Neighbours rushed to the townhouse and were banging on the door to make sure no one was inside.

As firefighters arrived about 8 minutes later, a back yard camera caught Paananen leaving the residence from the back yard.

Fire crews breached the front door which was locked and knocked down an active fire on the staircase. They went upstairs and all the doors were closed, and found another fire in one bedroom which was put out.

Fire investigators later found accelerants in the house including mason jars with gasoline, a bottle of race car fuel (methyl alcohol) and a propane tank with its hose cut off, allowing unregulated amounts of propane to flow from the tank.

The Crown said damage from the fires was estimated at $323,000, which does not include upwards of $25,000 in possessions.

The prosecutor said Paananen had 24 previous criminal convictions, many for property crimes, along with eight regulatory convictions, mostly for driving while prohibited.

The maximum sentence for arson is 14 years in prison.

Justice Hardwick said she needed time to think over her judgement, and set it over to 9:45 a.m. on Feb. 23 in B.C. Supreme Court in Vernon.

by Pete McIntyre

‘Worst decision I’ve ever made’: Vernon arson suspect apologizes for fire and explosion

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