Suspicious grass fires in Vernon

August 5, 2026 - Vernon, British Columbia
From: Vernon North Okanagan RCMP

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Emergency crews kept busy with suspicious fires in the Commonage on Tuesday afternoon.  On Tuesday August 4^th, 2026, at approximately 1:20 pm, frontline officers with the Vernon North Okanagan Detachment along with fire crews from the City of Vernon Fire Rescue Services responded to a grass fire on Commonage Road south of Bench Row Road in Vernon.  The fire appears to have started at a vehicle pullout near the roadside.  At 1:45pm, while on scene of the first fire, a second grass fire was reported behind Carlson Park in the 6500 block of Bench Row Road. The location of the second fire is accessible by foot through the park.   Both fires are being considered suspicious.

Through the course of the investigation, police spoke with the witnesses who remained at the scene of both fires; however, there are additional witnesses who left prior to the arrival of the police who were not identified.

“We are urging those individuals to contact our office as it is of the utmost importance that the police speak with all witnesses,” said Cpl Tania Finn, Media Relations Officer with the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP. “Also to assist with the investigation, police would like anyone with dash cam footage from the area to provide it to police for review.”

Fortunately, fire crews were able to contain the quick moving fires.  No structures were damaged and no one was injured.  The RCMP continue to investigate the incidents.  Anyone with information regarding these suspicious fires, including dash cam footage from Commonage Road or Bench Row Road during the time frame of 12:30pm to 2:00pm as well as any CCTV footage of the area are urged to contact the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP at (250) 545-7171.

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