Residents of a neighbourhood located west of Anthony Henday Drive have been left with questions, a day after three homes were destroyed in a fire – many wonder if the loss could have been less if a fire hall was located closer to them.
On Sunday, firefighters were called to a house fire on 213 Street and 88 Avenue at about 12:30 p.m. – fire officials said that afternoon that crews had the upper hand as soon as they arrived on the scene.
However, some living near the scene of the fire said they watched helplessly as homes were consumed by flames.
“I was just blown away, how quick it had travelled and it started to consume the next house,” Lewis Estates resident Matt Germsheid said.
Germsheid said he grew concerned, because after a few minutes he and other neighbours said there were no signs of fire trucks – he said he considered trying to hold off the flames with the garden hose, but realized those efforts would be futile.
“Really, in a situation like that you’re pretty much helpless and waiting for someone to come and save you in a way,” Germsheid said.
Chrissy Lindgren lives a few houses away from the scene, and said her neighbour called 911.
“It seemed like it took over 10 minutes from the time my neighbour called 911, to hear sirens,” Lindgren said.
Edmonton Fire Rescue confirmed Monday that it took 11 minutes for firefighters to arrive – it’s longer than the department’s target of reaching the scene in less than 7 minutes 90 percent of the time.
CTV News has learned fire fighters actually only reach that mark about 78 percent of the time.
Lindgren pointed to the lack of firefighting resources on that side of Anthony Henday Drive.
“Considering The Hamptons, the Grange, now Granville, now Lewis Estates, Secord and Winterburn are all on the west side of the Henday, and there isn’t one fire station over here,” Lindgren said.
One is slated to be built on 213 Street and Webber Green Drive – but it’s not scheduled to be operational for another two years.
For now, the closest fire stations are on 178 Street, with one on Callingwood Road, the other on 101 Avenue.
Meanwhile, fire investigators were on the scene Monday, but officials have not yet released the cause of the fire.
Structural damage is estimated at more than $1 million – excluding the estimated value of belongings destroyed in the fire.
The Lewis Estates Community League is working on a plan to help the families affected by the fire.
With files from Susan Amerongen
