Wood-burning stove sparks Vernon trailer fire

The Vernon fire department said it’s lucky a fire in a travel trailer wasn’t a lot worse.

“Trailers are small spaces, smoke can overcome people inside them very, very quickly and it is difficult to get out, especially if your pathway happens to be blocked,” Vernon Fire Rescue Services deputy chief Scott Hemstad said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Trailers are small spaces, smoke can overcome people inside them very, very quickly and it is difficult to get out, especially if your pathway happens to be blocked," Vernon Fire Rescue Services deputy chief Scott Hemstad said.

The small trailer fire was reported at around 9:30 a.m. Monday after smoke was seen coming from the trailer parked on private property along Anderson Way.

Vernon Fire Rescue Services said an employee of a nearby business partially extinguished the blaze with a fire extinguisher before crews got there.

Fire officials said heat from a wood-burning stove ignited some nearby objects.

Hemstad said the trailer had been modified so it could be heated with a wood-burning stove.

“When it comes to wood-burning appliances, make sure you’ve got a certified installer looking after that and it’s done per the manufacturer’s recommendations to be as safe as you can be. We don’t want to see anybody get injured in a fire,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "When it comes to wood-burning appliances, make sure you've got a certified installer looking after that and it's done per the manufacturer's recommendations to be as safe as you can be. We don't want to see anybody get injured in a fire," he said.

Hemstad said the occupant of the trailer declined medical treatment.