Edmonton fire sparked by unattended BBQ
A burning BBQ is the cause of an early morning fire that has forced nearly a dozen people from their homes in southwest Edmonton Saturday.
The fire started around 1:00 a.m. on the deck of a home on Rutherford Road, according to fire investigator Capt. Joe Koreman.
It started when the owner of the home turned on the BBQ to clean it. He then went back inside, forgetting about the BBQ.
"Heat from the BBQ ignited combustibles close by and it took off from there." said Koreman.
The fire spread across the deck to the triplex. Fire crews were about to get the flames under control, but not before they spread to an adjacent duplex.
"It did get into the attic. And once it gets into the attic, it is very difficult to extinguish," he said.
No one was injured in the fire; ten people were forced out of their homes and are staying with friends and family.
One woman who lived beside one of the damaged homes said it was fortunate the fire didn't spread further in the closely-packed neighbourhood.
"Lucky stars that nothing happened on the other side. And I feel really sorry for the people [affected]," she said.
The fire department estimates the fire caused $1.8 million in damages.
