WATCH ABOVE: A strange series of early morning fires in Calmar destroyed three homes and damaged a fourth. As Fletcher Kent reports, officials say it doesn’t look like an accident.
EDMONTON — An early Wednesday morning fire that destroyed several homes and caused approximately $1.2 million dollars in damage in a small town southwest of Edmonton is being investigated as arson.
The fire broke out Wednesday in a new residential neighbourhood in Calmar, a town about 40 kilometres south of Edmonton in Leduc County.
Leduc Fire Marshall says Calmar fires were almost certainly arson. There are signs of explosions. pic.twitter.com/91Z491ApCM
The Calmar Fire department, Leduc County fire department and RCMP were called just before 5 a.m. to Southbridge Drive, where huge flames and thick, black smoke could be seen shooting from at least three homes. A resident said they heard what sounded like an explosion before the fire began.
The Leduc Fire Marshall said he’d heard of sightings of a person running from scene, and police dogs were brought in to track possible suspects.
Four homes in total were affected. Three were heavily damaged, while the fourth had its siding affected by the fire.
Two houses were still under-construction and two were occupied. An area resident said one of the homes had just been moved-into. Everyone made it out safely.
Officials said the unoccupied homes were for sale and owners were in the U.S.
Three homes destroyed, one damaged, in early AM fire in #Calmar. Neighbours report hearing loud “Ka-boom.” pic.twitter.com/GU9wvWXObr
A backhoe was brought in later in the morning to knock down what was left of the destroyed homes. Fire investigators were also on scene, using a drone to capture an aerial view of the damage.
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