RCMP Seek Witnesses After Two Suspicious Grass Fires in Commonage

August 5, 2026 – Vernon North Okanagan RCMP are investigating two grass fires that broke out in the Commonage area Tuesday afternoon as suspicious and are asking the public for help.

On Tuesday, August 4, at approximately 1:20 p.m., officers with the Vernon North Okanagan Detachment and crews from the City of Vernon Fire Rescue Services responded to a grass fire on Commonage Road south of Bench Row Road.

The fire appears to have started at a vehicle pullout near the roadside. At 1:45 p.m., while still on scene of the first fire, a second grass fire was reported behind Carlson Park in the 6500 block of Bench Row Road.

That location is accessible by foot through the park.

Both fires are being considered suspicious.

Vernon Fire Rescue initiated mutual aid and received support from Coldstream fire crews.

Two helicopters that had been fighting the Bradley Creek fire were diverted to assist on the Carlson Park blaze.

Firefighters contained the quick-moving fires. No structures were damaged and no one was injured.

Police spoke with witnesses who remained at both scenes, but additional people left before officers arrived and have not been identified.

"We are urging those individuals to contact our office as it is of the utmost importance that the police speak with all witnesses,” said Cpl. Tania Finn, Media Relations Officer with the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP. “

Also to assist with the investigation, police would like anyone with dash cam footage from the area to provide it to police for review.”

Anyone with information about the fires, including dash cam footage from Commonage Road or Bench Row Road between 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., or any CCTV footage of the area, is asked to contact the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP at (250) 545-7171.

The RCMP investigation continues.

RCMP Seek Witnesses After Two Suspicious Grass Fires in Commonage