Morinville condo fire likely caused by cigarette
A cigarette is considered the likely cause of a fire that destroyed part of a condo complex in Morinville Saturday.
The fire started at around 5 p.m..
Len Power, who lives across the street from the affected condo, said he was outside working when he heard the fire alarm go off. He rushed around the building to find an attached deck engulfed in flames.
"It was intense. It was very hot. Lots of black smoke," he said.
Power said he went to get his girlfriend out of the building. He then started alerting neighbours. Luckily, most of them were not at home.
Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the fire, but the likely culprit appears to be a cigarette on a balcony.
"This, again, is one of those situations where you say be careful, said Ron Cust, Morinville's senior fire investigator.
"You're not alone. Your structure catches fire, you're taking others with you."
Crust said the person living in the unit tried to put the fire out, but the flames spread to other parts of the complex.
Four units were destroyed, although Cust said they were able to save the rest of the units, as well as the nearby legion hall.
Firefighters from Legal and St. Albert were also involved in tackling the blaze. Cust said the hot weather made fighting the fire that much more difficult. EMS was on the scene to make sure the fire crews did not become dehydrated or overheated.
"A few guys didn't make it to church today. They were pretty bagged."
The fire caused an estimated million dollars of damage.
