Kelowna

Arson is suspected after three fires broke out in Rutland within half an hour of each other late Monday morning.

Photo: Grant Scott

Fire crews mop up after putting out the third of 3 hedge fires which started within a half an hour of each other.

The first call came in at 11:22 a.m. when residents reported a fire burning in a field at 635 Fraser Road.

Shortly after fire crews responded to a second call just a few blocks away in a back alley behind 772 Hollywood Road North.

Then at 11:52, a third fire was reported close to the original one, at 1152 Leathead Road at the corner of Fraser Road.

"Definitely suspicious in nature," says Platoon Captain Henry Roelofs.

"We've got investigators arriving and the police were on the scene. We did drive around to see if we could spot anybody but found nothing suspicious so far."

Roelofs added the third fire in a large cedar hedge was more dangerous than the other two, but fortunately there were two crews already nearby and they were able to quickly knock it down.

"It probably would have been a lot worse if we hadn't been in the area. We also had a third bush truck and they were able to respond to this one right away."

Photo: Grant Scott

Christine Abella hoses down her backyard after someone set fire to the nearby hedge and cedar fence.

Roelofs called the actions of the arsonists surprisingly bold.

"In broad daylight there's a very good chance that someone will see you and yet from all accounts nobody has witnessed anything. We talked to residents in the area and nobody has seen anybody running from the scene."

That included the two residents of the home on Hollywood Road North which was hit around 11:35.

Christine Abella & Elizabeth Flynn live in the basement apartment and were unaware their backyard hedges and cedar fence were on fire until they heard a knock at the door.

"We really don't know what happened. Someone knocked on the door and said there's a fire burning. We came out and the backyard was burning," says Abella.

"The firemen were already here," added Flynn.

Both agreed that they didn't see anything suspicious but said some neighbours might have seen some one running away.

The RCMP and  Kelowna Fire Department are investigating the incidents.