Watch above: A house fire in the city’s west end has claimed the life of a 62-year-old man. Shallima Maharaj reports.
EDMONTON — One person is dead after a house fire in west Edmonton Saturday morning.
Firefighters were called to the home in the area of 92 Avenue and 156 Street around 6:30 a.m.
There were four people inside the home at the time. Three of the residents were able to make it out safely with the help of firefighters. A 62-year-old man was found dead in the basement.
Family members say the man’s name is Peter Wiebe. The man’s sister tells Global News the family is staying with her son, as they won’t be able to return home for several months.
Fire crews say the blaze started in a bedroom in the basement.
“The floors of the home are compromised on the main floor, making it very difficult to send crews in there to prevent collapsing into the basement area,” explained District Chief Dave Matwichuk with Edmonton Fire Rescue Services.
Damages are pegged at $150,000.
“The basement bedroom is definitely the area where the most smoke and fire damage occurred, classified as heavy fire damage to the basement bedroom. The rest of the house sustained quite a bit of smoke damage throughout,” said Captain Fire Investigator Rob Lewis.
Fire crews are still investigating to determine the cause of the fire. The Edmonton Police Service is also investigating. Officers say the fire does not appear to be suspicious.