Fire forces tenants out of Vernon apartment building

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: April 01, 2013 8:00 AM

Residents of a Vernon apartment building had to spend a night away from home because of fire. Fire broke out in a second floor unit at Capri Gardens, in the 3300 block of 35th Avenue, at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday. "Flames were coming out of the window," said Jack Blair, deputy fire chief. "The crew gained entry and gave an interior attack and knocked it down. The apartment where the fire started is pretty much gutted out." Two two apartments on the next floor also sustained some damage. All occupants of the 70 units in the complex were asked to leave the building for the night and they were up at a hotel. "We did that because of smoke. It was an unhealthy environment," said Blair. A cause has not been determined at this time. Vernon firefighters were also called to the 6100 block of Scott Road at about 3 a.m. Monday. In that case, a grass fire had spread to a shed. "The guys knocked it down and did some damage," said Bair, adding that there isn't a cause yet. "It could have possibly been a cigarette butt."