A heating lamp caused a fire that ravaged a house in Heritage Lakes on Friday, say St. Albert fire officials.
Just after 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 8, fire crews were called to a two-storey, single-family home on Hamilton Crescent. The back of the house was engulfed in flames.
A heat lamp, located under the back deck to keep the family’s dogs warm, caused the fire, said Les David Mroz, a fire prevention and safety officer with St. Albert fire services.
Officials believe the fire started when the lamp fell onto the straw underneath it.
“It’s an unfortunate set of circumstances,” said Mroz. “The heat lamp gives off a lot of heat … and then there was combustible material underneath the lamp.”
Mroz said there is extensive damage to the house as well as to the exterior vinyl siding on both neighbouring houses. He estimates damage to be at least $500,000.
Homeowners Francois and Nadia van der Merwe were not at home when the fire started. Their dogs were rescued from the blaze.
Seventeen firefighters from all three St. Albert fire stations responded and were on scene for two hours.
Mroz said heating appliances are known hazards and people need to be careful.
“Every year within our city, but certainly throughout the province and North America, there are lots of fires that are attributed to heating appliances,” he noted.
“We are in the heating season. We know that the use of space heaters, extension cords and wood-fired appliances increases the chances of having a fire. You have to make sure that those types of devices are maintained and not placed to close to combustible materials.”
As outlined on the Heritage Lakes Community Association’s website, a PayPal account has been set van der Merwe family. Donations can be sent to [email protected] (Note: you will not receive a tax receipt since this is not a formal charity).
Donations of cash or gift cards can also be dropped off at the Sturgeon Valley Baptist Church at 51 Woodlands Rd. until Friday between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
