Cause of barn blaze remains a mystery

VERNON – An investigation into the cause of a devastating barn fire continues to turn up few answers.

Deputy fire chief Jack Blair says they still don’t know what led to the July 31 blaze on Pottery Road, on the outskirts of the City of Vernon.

“There’s so much damage it’s hard to pinpoint the area of origin,” Blair says.

While a series of arsons have been plaguing the city for months, Blair says this fire appears to be accidental, though investigators can’t say for sure.

The Fire Department is waiting for electrical inspectors to take a look at the scene.

In addition to the hay barn, Blair says motorcycles, a travel trailer and tools were also ruined in the fire. He pegs the property owner’s losses at around $60,000. A woman staying the trailer at the time of the fire escaped unhurt with her dogs.

Meanwhile, a shed fire that happened Thursday afternoon about 1 p.m. was deemed accidental. Blair says the fire, in 6000 block of Okanagan Avenue, started as a small grass fire and spread to the door of a shed. Damage was minor.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.