Smoke billowed over the skies of Vernon on Thursday afternoon as emergency crews battled a house fire along Commonage Place.
Thick, black smoke could be seen pouring from the residential blaze, along with water being sprayed onto the house from local firefighters.
The fire department said reports of the fire were first made around 2 p.m., and that five units were sent to the incident.
Vernon Fire Chief David Lind said the fire was brought under control and suppressed, and the cause is under investigation.
“We will be putting security at the property until our investigation is complete,” Lind said.
No one was inside the home at the time, but a family cat was safely removed from the home and taken to a vet. It’s not yet known how many people were displaced.
Lind said the roof was burned off and there is “extensive” fire and smoke damage throughout the home, adding the home is uninhabitable.
Also on Thursday, a grass fire 10 kilometres south of the city that sparked along Highway 97 prompted a response from the BC Wildfire Service.
Wildfire officials said the fire, which grew to less than a hectare in size, responded well to suppression efforts and was considered held by 4:30 p.m.
The fire was visible from the highway, prompting southbound traffic to be reduced to one lane.
Lind said the two fires were not related, and the cause of that fire is also under investigation.
—With files from Megan Turcato
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