Five homes have been damaged following a fire in southwest Edmonton and officials have estimated the damage at $1.8 million.
Fire crews responded to the blaze in the 1500-block of Rutherford Road around 1:10 a.m. Saturday.
Edmonton Fire Rescue Capt. Joe Koremean said when they arrived they found a working fire that began at the back of one of the units in the triplex.
“The owner was heating up his barbecue to clean the grill and while it was heating up he went inside. He was distracted inside, because it was supper time, and he forgot about it.
“So radiant heat built up on the barbecue and ignited close by combustibles.”
Officials said the fire spread to two other units and then to a neighbouring duplex.
There were no injuries reported and 11 people managed to escape.
One of those was Joy Butt who is visiting her nephew.
“I woke up. My nephew was singing out to me ‘Get out. Get out. The house is on fire.’ And I didn’t see anything until I got outside.”
It was then that she could see the fire.
“I just saw flames coming from the back of the house.”
Neighbour Jerry Campbell said he managed to get out of his home before the fire damaged his roof.
“They banged on my door. I didn’t hear it. Thank God I smelt the smoke and got out.
“The whole roof is gone.
“The back half of it is gone. It is wide open up there.”
Most neighbours have been understanding about the incident.
“He made an honest mistake,” Campbell told CTV News.
“Everyone forgets things. It is just one of those things that happen. It sucks. It had a really bad result but everyone has forgotten to turn off the stove or turn off the barbecue. It is just one of those things that happen,” Dave King said.
The fire was declared under control just before 4 a.m.
With files from Veronica Jubinville
