Fire in Edmonton basement suite causes heavy smoke damage

EDMONTON – Fire crews are on scene at a fire in a basement suite in the area of 106 Avenue and 110 Street.

When fire fighters arrived shortly before 11 a.m. Friday, they found a three-storey apartment with a fire in a basement suite. Smoke could be seen billowing from a basement window. There was a lot of smoke damage. Crews used ladders to rescue at least two people from fourth-floor balconies.

“We were sleeping,” said resident Afraaz Skeik. “We heard the fire alarm was going and suddenly I came out, everything was dark, I couldn’t see anything. I woke him up and we just … jumped from the window.”

He tried going out the main door but the smoke was so heavy, it was completely dark.

“I was scared.”

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“There’s normally four occupants in this basement suite,” said District Chief Dale Dedio. “Only two were home at the time. Both of them are fine.” Dedio said the Red Cross and the Office of Emergency Management will help the people displaced. No one in the six suites on the lower level is being allowed back home. Residents living in the top two floors are being allowed back in.

There is no word yet on the possible cause or damage estimate.