(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

no one harmed

Structure fire causes reported ‘explosion’ in Red Deer’s West Park area

Nov 21, 2023 | 2:45 PM

Author’s note: The original version of this story implied that the ‘explosions’ caused a fire. Red Deer Emergency Services later clarified it was the reverse (more details below)…

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A black plume of smoke caused by a fire in Red Deer’s West Park neighbourhood could be seen from kilometres away Tuesday afternoon.

No one was hurt after a blaze at the rear of the property at 5934 West Park Close, which destroyed a detached garage.

(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

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Red Deer Emergency Services Fire Marshall clarified to rdnewsNOW later Tuesday afternoon that a fire broke out in the detached garage, and caused what some may have perceived as explosions, but they actually came from smaller cylinders popping or bursting. After investigating, he says he wouldn’t characterize anything that occurred Tuesday as an explosion.

Multiple people in the area told rdnewsNOW they heard more than one ‘pop’ around the time the fire broke out, which Deputy Chief Tyler Pelke said they responded to at 12:46 p.m.

No other structures were damaged.

(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

Pelke says the call they got was to report, “an explosion.”

Kivell says the cause is undetermined, adding that a back-hoe had to be used to finally put the fire out. The investigation will now be turned over to insurance, he says, also adding that they don’t have any reason to believe the fire is suspicious.