Suspicious Penticton fires being investigated by police

Penticton police officers are investigating what they call "suspiciously lit fires" within city limits.

On Nov. 3, RCMP officers and the Penticton Fire Department were called to several fires that were lit in the city, according to a RCMP press release.

This began at roughly 12:30 a.m., when firefighters were called to extinguish a fire that started in several wooden pallets behind 1301 Main Street.

During that same night, crews were called to the rear of the 2900 block of Skaha Lake Road, subsequent to a report of unhoused individuals attempting to start a small fire, according to police. The fire was quickly put out without any property damage.

In the early morning hours, a commercial garbage container was lit on fire behind 1897 Main Street. The Penticton Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire safely, however a nearby wooden fence sustained damage, according to police.

“As the temperatures began falling, we’ve seen an increase in the number of suspiciously lit fires within the city,” Const. James Grandy, with the police detachment, said in the news release.

“These fires appear to have been deliberately set. Although many are minor in nature, some have posed a risk to nearby structures. We want to ask anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious, or has information on any of these fires, to contact the Penticton RCMP at 250-492-4300."

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