Photo: Darren Handschuh

Vernon Fire Rescue was called to two small fires within 30 minutes, Thursday morning.

Both fires were within blocks of each other and deputy fire chief Jack Blair said both were suspicious. Police are investigating.

The first fire was set at 5:53 a.m. on the 3200 block of 30th Street, where two bags of yard waste were on fire. About half an hour later, crews doused a small grass fire in Becker Park, eight blocks away.

“We requested RCMP, and they are under investigation,” said Blair. “They are both suspicious in nature.”

While the Becker fire only grew to 10 feet by 10 feet, the potential for disaster was there.

“It was not a large area, but had there been winds, it would have been a different story. It is very dry up there, lots of tall grass,” said Blair.

Becker Park is in the middle of a residential area next to the Vernon Recreation Complex and was the site of several human-caused fires in the spring.

RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk said police attended the Becker fire, but could not determine if it was an act of arson.

Vernon was plagued by arson fires earlier in the year, with numerous fires set. An abandoned house, boat and other targets were intentionally torched.

There have been no reported arson fires for several weeks, and Molendyk said it's impossible to say if the latest fires are related.