Photo: Contributed - VFD

Over the last several months the Vernon RCMP and the local fire department have been fighting what appears to be a string of arson fires in the North Okanagan.

Since the spring, several dozen suspicious blazes have been lit and despite some periods of calm, the fires are still burning.

Just last week a pile of tires was set ablaze, the newest addition to the seemingly endless list of fires in the Vernon area that are believed to have been set on purpose.

The tire fire was different from the dumpster fire before it, and different from the pallet fire before that.

These ‘differences’ have left the RCMP stuck trying to create a link between the blazes.

“It would be much easier if we could say they were all in a dumpster or were all pallets, but we have had such an array of different types of fires we don't know if we are dealing with an individual or individuals,” explains RCMP spokesman Gord Molendyk.

In fact the police will not say whether there is an “arsonist” at work despite the ongoing occurrences.

“How can we say we have a pattern when you go from pallets, to dumpsters, to boats, abandoned vehicles, old houses, apple bins, stands, tires, everything. There is just a miss-mash of everything, and it is not even in one area of town, it is scattered all over town,” adds Molendyk.

Like the dozens before it, Molendyk says the tire fire is under investigation as police work to connect the fires and try to bring an end to the damage.

Police are asking anyone with information on any of the fires this year to contact the Vernon RCMP.