Investigation launched into cause of Vernon house fire

VERNON – Investigators are working to figure out what caused the fire that ripped through a Vernon home yesterday afternoon.

Vernon Fire Rescue deputy fire chief Scott Hemstead said he was currently interviewing witnesses and firefighters as part of the investigation into the blaze just after 2 p.m. yesterday, Aug. 22, at a home on Commonage Place. 

Hemstead said when the fire department received the call, five firefighters immediately responded and more personnel were then called in.

"The fire entered the attic space of the main structure and was threatening the house next to it and our fire crews did a great job of preventing that exposure to prevent it from spreading to the house next door," he said.

Social media posts showed flames shooting out of the roof of the property with thick black smoke pouring into the sky.

Hemsted confirmed no one was injured in the fire but he had not spoken to the residents of the property yet so could not confirm whether anyone was home when the fire broke out.

He expected the investigation into the fire's cause to be completed sometime next week.

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