Edmonton Fire Rescue officials say a fire in the city's west end that forced the evacuation of dozens of people and sent two to hospital, caused $400,000 in damage.
Officials say emergency crews were called to an apartment complex in the area of 177 Street and 81 Avenue just after 5 a.m. Sunday morning.
Officials say the fire originated in a third floor suite that received major damage.
Twelve other suites on all four floors of the complex received minor damage. The fire was brought under control just before 6 a.m.
Tracie Moore with Red Cross Alberta says the Red Cross helped a total of 44 residents affected by the fire - including 37 who have to be put up in hotels.
Julia Young was one of the residents who had to be evacuated.
Young and her family just moved into the building a few weeks ago and the fire broke out in the suite above Young’s.
"The fire was there and was going up to the fourth floor and big ball of fire just came out," Young said.
“I heard the people above me start running around like there were footsteps going everywhere. I looked out my bedroom window and I see ashes and fire falling down.”
She was told it would be at least a month before she'd be able to go back to her suite.
"There's water everywhere. It's running down the walls," she said.
"There's damage everywhere. The bathroom's soaked, the whole bedroom, everything, there's water everywhere."
A middle-aged man and an elderly woman who live in the suite where the fire started were taken to hospital to be treated for minor smoke inhalation.
Fire officials say the blaze was caused by "smoker's material."
With files from Amanda Anderson
