A family home in the city’s deep southwest was destroyed by a large fire early Tuesday morning.
Edmonton Fire Rescue Services was called to 411 Ainslie Crescent SW in the Ambleside neighbourhood at 4:21 a.m.
Neighbour Stephane Sabourin was awoken by the approach of sirens.
“My wife got up just to have a look because it was really close,” he said, adding that’s when they realized the house right next door was on fire.
Sabourin said they got the kids up and rushed to get out of their house.
“Fire showed up really fast,” he said. The city said crews were on scene about two minutes after receiving multiple 911 calls.
Firefighters arrived to find the home consumed by flames, with thick smoke pouring out of it.
A second alarm was called immediately, requesting additional units to the initial seven that responded.
Two adults and one child made it out safely and no injuries were reported, EFRS said.
As the sun came up, the full extent of the destruction was revealed: there was some damage visible to the front of the home, while the back of the house was left gutted.
Video shot by our Global 1 news helicopter showed most of the roof was burnt away, unveiling charred rooms below.
Firefighters were able to keep the blaze contained to the house where it originated and said no neighbouring homes were significantly damaged. Sabourin said his home has some heat damage to the siding and soffit.
The fire was declared under control just before 5:30 a.m. and fully extinguished by 9:13 a.m.
“Definitely pretty thankful,” Sabourin said of the quick response and his neighbours taking the family in while they were temporarily unable to be in their home.
“Rumour was (firefighters) saw it from the (Anthony Henday) maybe before anyone knew about it all, so yeah, they were pretty fast.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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