EDITOR’S NOTE: This story previously identified Dwight Kennedy as the owner of the dealership, which was incorrect. It has since been updated to identify him as the owner of the building that the dealership operated out of.
Two fires broke out early Monday morning in a town west of Edmonton, and one of them destroyed much of a vehicle dealership.
Firefighters in Edson were first called to the Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership around 3:37 a.m., according to Town of Edson communications co-ordinator Steve Bethge.
Crews arrived to find the office and showroom area consumed by flames.
Extra help from Yellowhead County Fire Department was called in to help fight the flames. At its peak, there were around 30 firefighters on scene.
The entire office and showroom area was destroyed, as well as about 60 per cent of the mechanical area, Bethge said.
Dwight Kennedy, who owns the building that the dealership operates out of, said thankfully no one was injured, but that several vehicles were lost, including a Dodge Demon worth about $175,000.
Police said they believe about 12 vehicles were lost as a result of the fire.
“It’s a total loss, as you can see,” Kennedy said.
He said that while some vehicles outside weren’t affected, their keys — that had been inside the building — are now gone.
“It’s a bad time of the year, just before Christmas.”
The fire was brought under control around 8 a.m. and cleanup crews were on scene. The cause of the fire and a damage estimate was not immediately known.
A second blaze was called in to 911 around 4:15 a.m. when emergency crews responded to a vehicle on fire near 41 Street and 15 Avenue in Edson.
Terina Irwin said she was awoken by banging on her door and someone ringing the doorbell to warn her.
“We awoke at about 4:30 a.m. to someone banging on our door, telling us there was a fire on the walking trail directly behind our house,” she said.
Irwin said the fire department hadn’t arrived yet and had to cross a field to get to the burning truck, “so it took them a little while.”
“It was only a few feet from the trees and we could see the branches blowing around from the heat,” she said.
The fire consumed the white Ford pickup, destroying all but the box of the truck.
RCMP said both fires are being investigated by police.
Edson is about 180 kilometres west of Edmonton.