Molotov cocktail chucked at car in Coldstream area

Two fires reported early Sunday morning in Coldstream have police wondering if there's a connection between them.

Just before 6 a.m. Sunday, police were called to the area of Cunliffe Road and Lochhaven Drive after a 2005 Volvo station-wagon was damaged by what police believe to be a Molotov cocktail.

"Our officer attended and confirmed that a glass bottle filled with gasoline… had been thrown against the Volvo's windshield, on the driver's side," RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk said, noting the smell of gas lingered in the air.

"From the damage to the windshield, the bottle was likely thrown from a moving vehicle," Molendyk said.

The officer observed smoke and fire damage to the moldings on both doors on the driver's side of the vehicle.

The owner told police she had parked her car on Cunliffe Rd. to take her dogs for a walk in the adjacent orchard.

While she was in the orchard she noticed that a lone tree and an irrigation pipe had been set on fire and was still smoldering.

"At this time it is unknown if the two fires are related," Molendyk said.

The police are asking anyone with information about these fires or who may have seen anything suspicious around this time to please call the Vernon RCMP office at 250 545-7171 or Crime Stoppers.