Police seek woman in blue pickup truck after suspicious wildfires

Police are looking for a person who may be responsible for sparking two wildfires in the North Okanagan.

Mounties are investigating reports of someone lighting slash piles on fire in the Westwold area, north-west of Vernon, on Monday (May 2).

One was on Douglas Lake Road and a second one was near Westwold Station Forest Service Road around 2:30 p.m.

Wildfires in the Westwold/Monte Lake area. (Image credit: BC Wildfire Service)

Members of the B.C. Wildfire Service responded and were able to contain the fires.

“During their initial response, police received unconfirmed reports that a small blue pickup truck being driven by a woman, was seen leaving the vicinity of both burns,” said Constable Chris Terleski, media relations officer for the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP. “Multiple frontline officers, as well as an RCMP Air Services Helicopter engaged in a search for the suspect vehicle, however, it was not located.”

Terleski said police are “incredibly concerned” that someone would intentionally be starting fires.

“After the destruction and devastation caused by wildfires last year, we appreciate and understand how terribly unsettling this is for residents. We’re actively investigating the incidents and are appealing to the public for any information that may help us in furthering this investigation,” said the officer.

Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in those areas, or have information related to the fires or the suspect vehicle, is asked to contact the Enderby RCMP office and quote police file NR2022-2366.

Shaelee Stearns, an information officer with the Wildfire Service, said crews are making progress on the new fires in the Monte Lake and Westwold areas.

One on the Station Forest Service Road is spot sized and under control while another one near George Creek Forest Service Road is being held with little or no growth.

A third wildfire near Talbot Forest Service Road is classified as out of control, but small, and with three wildfire personnel on the site.

“The personnel responding to that will also be monitoring the other fires in that area,” Stearns told Vernon Matters.

Stearns says the fires remain small.

“We didn’t really see any growth on any of these fires,” she said.

To report a wildfire, dial *5555 or 1-800-663-5555.