RCMP in Vernon say a person from West Kelowna has been arrested and charged in connection with two grass fires in the Commonage area in early August.
On Tuesday August 4, 2026, at 1:23pm, Mounties and Vernon Fire Rescue responded to a grass fire on Commonage Road near Bench Row Road. A short time later, a second fire was discovered in Carlson Park on Bench Row Road.
Police say on Friday, August 14, 2026, a suspect was arrested and charged for both fires. The charges were laid against 33-year-old Mariah Banning Baer of West Kelowna. Mounties charged Baer with multiple arson charges, possession of incendiary material, disguising of the face with intent to commit an indictable offence and breach of a probation order.
“We reached this point in our investigation through a tremendous amount of hard work by our investigators and the collective effort of everyone involved,” states Sergeant David Evans of the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP. “Their effort, dedication, and excellent police work is what made this outcome possible.”
Baer appeared in court and has been remanded in custody awaiting a bail hearing.
The investigation remains ongoing.
