Arson suspected in one of two fires to break out in Penticton overnight

PENTICTON – Officials are investigating after two recent blazes in the city — one that caused an explosion in an industrial area last night and a suspicious one at a local grocery store early this morning.

A fire started in the loading dock of the Save on More supermarket at Cherry Lane Mall is being investigated as arson, Penticton RCMP media spokesperson Don Wrigglesworth says.

The fire, which was reported around 5:45 a.m. today, Dec. 8, damaged the facade above the loading dock as well as a trailer and it contents.

Wrigglesworth says the RCMP forensic investigation team is following up and is looking at surveillance video taken of the loading dock. The Penticton fire department is also investigating.

A sign on the door to Save on Foods indicated it was closed earlier this morning.

RCMP and fire crews also responded to a blaze around 9:40 p.m. yesterday.

Wrigglesworth says police were called to assist firefighters after an explosion was reported in the vicinity of Commercial Way and Clark Avenue, in the city’s industrial area. He says police arrived on scene to find flames shooting 40 to 50 feet into the air.

Police arrived to find a man being assisted away from the scene by another, he says, adding the fire began in a trailer on the property when two men making repairs to the trailer’s furnace turned it on for the first time this season.

A strong smell of propane didn’t deter one of the men from lighting a cigarette, which is believed to have caused the fire. The man is reported to be in serious condition in Penticton Regional Hospital.

A nearby outbuilding and another trailer were also damaged in the fire.

Penticton fire investigators were still on scene this morning as the investigation continues.

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