Tire fire suspicious

Photo: Contributed - Vernon Fire Department

A late night fire in the Kal Tire parking lot Thursday has been deemed suspicious, however, fire department officials are not saying whether this latest fire is connected with other arsons over the past several months.

"It's a suspicious fire because tires don't spontaneously combust," says Vernon deputy fire chief, Lawrie Skolrood.

"We have another suspicious fire in Vernon. Whether it's connected, it's a little early to say."

Skolrood says any information possibly linking this fire with others would come from the RCMP.

While RCMP are looking into a possible link, spokesman Gord Molendyk says it is difficult for RCMP to determine because there is no common denominator between the fires.

The fire, which started about 7:30 p.m. Thursday, destroyed several tires belonging to a go-kart club in the Vernon area.

The tires were kept on a flatbed trailer.

"They have been there as long as I can remember and there have been no problems," says Skolrood.

"I've always wondered when it could be a problem because obviously there are a lot of them. Last night somebody decided to make them a problem."

Skolrood says crews were able to quickly bring the fire under control, partially because the tires were elevated off the ground and did not get into other tires in the vicinity.

Crews were even able to get the fire out before it could damage the flatbed trailer itself.

Flames, which reached heights of about 30 feet, could be seen from quite a distance away.