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Side of house fire on Keith Close in Kentwood. (Alessia Proietti/rdnewsNOW)
No injuries

Windy conditions intensify two house fires in Red Deer on Saturday

Apr 11, 2022 | 10:06 PM

Red Deer’s recent wind gusts have become a significant factor in intensifying two house fires on Saturday.

On April 9 at roughly 2:30 p.m., firefighters with Red Deer Emergency Services (RDES) were called to a fire in the Kentwood neighbourhood on Keith Close by an adult resident in the home at the time.

Curtis Schaefer, Assistant Deputy Chief, confirmed the fire was mainly in the back of the home but spread quickly to the attic, due predominantly to the high winds that day.

Backyard of house fire on Keith Close in Kentwood. (Alessia Proietti/rdnewsNOW)

RDES already had two crews of eight firefighters attending to a deck fire at the time of the call.

“It just stretched our resources pretty thin while this fire was coming in,” he said.

Schaefer says the initial response was to send two fire engines with eight firefighters. However, the fire quickly classified itself as a fully-involved fire, meaning the structure of the home was now overtaken by flames. The Assistant Deputy Chief stated the fire crew increased to 16 on scene, taking a few hours to diffuse.

“The home is as a loss; a complete write-off,” said Schaefer.

Back of house fire on Keith Close in Kentwood. (Alessia Proietti/rdnewsNOW)

Just after 3:30 p.m. that same day, RDES was called to respond to another house fire in Deer Park on Duston Street.

Schaefer believes one adult resident was in the home when they phoned 9-1-1.

While the fire began in the garage, it eventually moved its way into the attic and to the rest of the home, causing significant damage, says Schaefer.

House fire on Duston Street in Deer Park. (Alessia Proietti/rdnewsNOW)

“Again wind was a big factor on this one. Just the way that the house was facing, the heat and smoke were pushed into the home instead of away from it,” he said.

Initially sending one fire engine with four firefighters, the crews had to reach out to Red Deer County and Sylvan Lake for extra aid. In total, 25 firefighters came on scene.

Both fires were able to be contained and controlled, without any injuries to residents or firefighters, and no damage to neighboring properties. Both causes of the fires are still unknown as investigations continue.

“With those fires like that we feel for the families for losing their homes. That’s a significant thing; nothing small about that,” said Schaefer. “We’re happy that nobody was hurt.”

RDES responded to a total of five separate fires on Saturday.

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