Small explosion, fire outside Vernon home was arson: RCMP

Two days before a home was shot at in a drive-by shooting on Vernon's 24 Avenue, residents on the same block dealt with a small explosion.

The explosion caused a small fire on an outside wall of a residential building.

Police are now treating the incident as arson.

According to a Vernon North Okanagan RCMP media release, police were called to the 3700-block of 24 Avenue at around 6:15 p.m. on New Year's Eve.

READ MORE: Vernon RCMP investigating drive-by shooting

Vernon Fire Rescue Services also responded to the call but the residents managed to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading before emergency crews arrived.

No injuries were reported and the exterior of the building sustained a small amount of fire damage, RCMP said.

On Jan. 2, a targeted drive-by shooting took place in the 3700 block of 24 Avenue. Police say multiple shots were fired and a residence was struck numerous times.

Vernon RCMP is asking anyone that may have witnessed the fire and explosion, or have information that may assist in the investigation and have not yet spoken to police, to contact Vernon RCMP at 250-545-7171 and quote file 2021-24517.

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