A sentencing hearing will be held Friday, Feb. 16, for a man who admitted his involvement in connection with a Vernon townhouse fire in July 2022.

Lorne William Paananen 鈥� born in 1981 鈥� entered a guilty plea to one count of arson/damage to a property (residence) in the Vernon Court House Monday, Feb. 12.

Paananen was to go to trial on the matter starting Wednesday, Feb. 14.

The fire took place July 18, 2022, at a two-storey townhouse in the 4200 block of 20th Street, in Vernon鈥檚 Harwood Area. The blaze broke out shortly before 11 p.m.

Emergency responders had received a report of a possible explosion at the townhouse, which had one of its front windows shattered.

A person walking along the street at the time told The Morning Star she heard 鈥渢his big boom, and a bunch of (debris) came out onto the road.鈥�

No one was injured as the units were empty when crews arrived.