NEAR VERNON, B.C. – Fire investigators used a hydrocarbon detector off Falcon Road Tuesday evening to determine if an accelerant was used to spread a small but suspicious blaze.
“We can’t find anything present at this time,” Rick Owens, fire services advisor to the B.C. Fire Commissioner, said. “There’s nothing left there as far as anything to off-gas right now. If there was something used or whatever, the vapours are gone now.”
The fire was discovered just before 5 p.m. in the forest off Falcon Road near Silver Star Road.
The flames blackened an area about five by 10 metres before being doused by BX/ Swan Lake fire crews.
Owens is part of an active investigation team that is trying to determine the source of about a dozen suspicious fires in the area in the last month.
“It’s a terrible time of year. If it is somebody out there fooling around or whatever, they’ve got to realize that it could have huge consequences here for not only people’s homes and actually possible loss of life or firefighters could be endangered.”
Neighbours have begun a surveillance program to protect their properties, fearing the next fire could cause more damage.
“Keep your eyes open, talk to your neighbours and if you do find something report it to the RCMP,” said Owens.