Edmonton Fire Rescue officials have determined the cause and damages from a fire that started outside a Mill Woods home Sunday night.
Officials said Tuesday that investigators had determined a cigarette, left smouldering in a planter, eventually ignited and spread up the vinyl siding of the home located at 20 Street and 37 A Avenue.
Officials said about 45 firefighters were called to that fire at about 10 p.m. Sunday – the blaze ended up involving two homes, and damaging nearby homes.
It took crews about five hours to bring the fire under control.
It’s estimated the blaze caused about $1 million in damages.
Officials said soil in planters insulates cigarettes, instead of putting them out – and the cigarette butts can smoulder for several hours before igniting – as a result, officials said smokers should use a metal can with sand, or an ashtray, to dispose of smoking materials.
In addition, Edmonton Fire Rescue said conditions are dry, and there is an ‘extreme’ warning on the Fire Weather Index at this time – and officials are not issuing any permits for open burning, until weather conditions change.
