Who caused blaze?

Photo: Darren Handschuh

The RCMP are investigating following a small but suspicious fire Thursday morning in the 4800 block of Pleasant Valley Road.

Vernon Fire Rescue was called to the scene by officers around 9:20 a.m.

“We found smoke coming from thick brush behind a residence,” said fire captain Reinhard Mann.

Firefighters struggled through the brush before coming to an old pump house that was on fire.

“There was evidence of transients being in that area,” said Mann.

He said in terms of a dollar value not much was lost however Mann expressed relief that it was not a hot July day.

“If it had been a typical summer day, there would have been an issue,” said Mann. “The brush was up against multiple outbuildings, including garages, and it was on a steep hillside.”

He said fire investigators had not yet determined the cause of the fire.