After a fire in Regina’s Heritage neighbourhood that took the life of one victim, answers are starting to come in for the family and what caused the fire.
The fire took place on the 1700 block of Quebec Street on Sunday, July 9, with the Regina Fire Department calling it accidental.
After investigating, Regina Fire found the fire started after someone tried to light a cigarette with a butane torch.
“It’s actually the leading cause of fatalities in Canada and North America,” Fire Marshal Randy Ryba said about lighting cigarettes. “It’s open flame devices and the discarding of smokers material. It’s just one of those things that happens very quickly, and it can be easily prevented by care and caution.”
The fire left one person injured, though Regina Fire says they are not severe. The fire also jumped to the neighbour’s house causing extensive damage to their home.
“All of the residents in that dwelling are still displaced and probably will be for some time,” Ryba said.
Ryba said this is the first fire related death in Regina in 18 months. In a year, there is an average of two or three according to Ryba.