Fire at Edmonton’s Dwayne’s Home deliberately set

EDMONTON – Fire officials confirmed Monday that a fire at a downtown transitional housing complex on Feb. 12 was deliberately set.

Shortly before 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, fire crews were called to Dwayne’s Home at 100 Avenue and 102 Street.  A second alarm was called at about 3:20 p.m., and about forty fire personnel –  14 units – were on scene.

Crews were seen fighting a fire in a third floor suite.

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services said the fire was deliberately set when an open flame was applied to combustibles.

The fire resulted in extensive damage to a suite on the third floor of Dwayne’s House, and heavy smoke and water damage throughout the second and third floors.

Total damage is estimated at $400,000.

WATCH: Raw video – fire crews battle fire at Dwayne’s Home 

Roughly 130 people were living in the complex at the time of the fire. They were all forced out for several days.

The City of Edmonton’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) was offered support to residents while firefighters dealt with the blaze. The OEM worked with the Canadian Red Cross and other partners to temporarily house residents until they were allowed back to their suites later that week.

One man was taken to hospital with undisclosed injuries.

Witnesses said he was a resident, and was hanging outside the window of the third floor suite before dropping to the ground below.

“I live in the apartment across the way,” said Cherie, who lives in the building. “I saw smoke coming out of his window, and I called for a fire truck, and then he had come outside the window, he was holding on, and he couldn’t hold on any more. He let go, and I called back for an ambulance.”

Dwayne’s Home was converted from a hostel to a transitional housing facility for homeless and lower income Edmontonians in Feb. 2013.

The Edmonton Police Service has now taken over the investigation.