Six Edmonton Fire Rescue Services units were dispatched to a house fire Tuesday morning in the west end.
The call came in at 9:40 a.m. for a house at 189th Street and 83rd Avenue.
The first unit arrived on scene at 9:46 a.m., an EFRS spokesperson said.
A district chief at the scene told Global News the fire damage to the first home is “extensive,” but good tactics by firefighters limited the damage to an adjacent home.
“It looks like it originated in the back end of the east-side house and spread into the second house to the west,” District Chief Brian Williams said. “Our crews did an excellent job in preventing that from spreading even further.”
Williams said everyone inside the home got out.
“Everybody is out safe and accounted for,” he said.
Williams said conditions are dry for this time of year.
“Because we haven’t had any marked precipitation at this time, the ground is dry, everybody’s yard is dry, the shrubs, everything.”
On Wednesday, EFRS said the fire was caused by something combustible being placed too close to a heat source.
Damages are estimated to be $650,000.
Neighbour Christine Chan, whose home was also damaged, was surprised how quickly the fire spread.
“I’m actually surprised that it caused this much damage to our house,” she said.
“They say it’s gotten into the roof, into my room… They say it’s not habitable,” Chan added. “We’re not able to stay.”
She said she’s relieved no one was hurt and grateful for the firefighters’ efforts.
“I was home at the time. A different neighbour rang the doorbell and told me: ‘Your neighbour’s house is on fire. Please get out.’ So I immediately stepped outside and saw the fire, so I told my parents to both get out of the house,” Chan said.
“I was just more worried if anyone called 911 or if anyone was still in any of the houses, if anyone was hurt… Then afterwards the fear kind of set in that: ‘Oh my goodness, my house might get burnt too.'”
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