An investigation is underway into a Christmas Eve early morning fire at a Vernon auto dealership.
Social media posts shows heavy smoke and numerous damaged vehicles at Vernon Kia on the Swan Lake Auto Mile.
Danni and Chris Van der Molen posted that they were jolted out of bed at around 2 a.m. by sounds of explosions.
“We jumped out of bed, and ran upstairs to see a multiple vehicle fire at Vernon Kia across the road,” said Danni.
The fire resulted in no injuries, the dealership confirmed later Wednesday morning.
BX Swan Lake Fire Rescue Chief Bill Wacey was the first on-scene.
“When I got there, there were five cars fully engulfed in flames,” said Wacey on Wednesday, Dec. 24. “There ended up being seven cars fully involved and two others suffered significant damage.”
Wacey put in a mutual aid request to Vernon Fire Rescue Services.
“It was a great collaboration with the city,” he said. “They sent an engine crew to help with the fire which was at the back of the dealership.”
Vernon North Okanagan RCMP also received a report of multiple vehicles on fire at a dealership in the 6300 block of Highway 97 shortly after 2 a.m.
“Officers responded to the location where they found fire crews dealing with vehicles that were fully engulfed in flames,” said Vernon North Okanagan RCMP media liaisons.
Both Wacey and the RCMP say fire is considered suspicious in nature.