A blaze that destroyed four homes in a Fort McMurray neighbourhood is being blamed on a cigarette.
Early Monday, April 13, firefighters were called to a home in the Abasand area. Firefighters arrived to find two homes fully engulfed in flames.
In the end, four homes were completely destroyed, while others received varying levels of fire and heat damage.
Investigators said they had determined the fire started as a result of a discarded cigarette, an accidental, but preventable fire – it’s a type of fire crews have had to deal with dozens of times since 2011.
Officials said they’ve dealt with 41 fires connected to smoking materials and discarded cigarettes in recent years, they’re asking smokers to ensure their cigarettes are put out in a deep, stable-based ashtray, never throw them into garbage cans as they could ignite other materials and soak ashes and butts in water before throwing them away.
In this case, officials said the cigarette was discarded on the front lawn of a home, instead of an ashtray.
Damages have been pegged at $2 million.
