OLDS — Firefighters were called to a small fire in a townhouse yesterday at 5101 - 48th Street, kitty corner from Cam Clark Ford.
Firefighters got the call at 12:02 p.m. on March 22. Ten responded and were on-scene less than an hour.
Olds Fire Department Chief Justin Andrew says the homeowner discovered the blaze after coming home and called 911.
“Upon arrival, crews found light smoke coming from a second story apartment in a townhouse complex,” Andrew wrote in an email to the Albertan.
“The fire was limited to a small area in a living room and was the result of unattended smoking material being left near combustible materials.”
No injuries occurred as a result of the blaze.
Other residents of the complex were briefly evacuated until the fire was completely extinguished and it was deemed safe to return. A damage estimate had not been determined but “will be minimal due to quick activation and response of fire personnel,” Andrew wrote.
Some observers wondered why a ladder truck was sent to the scene.
"The ladder truck responds to any fire incident where there is the potential for fire to spread to adjacent structures or suites within a complex. It has specific capabilities and tools that could be utilized in those situations," Andrew wrote.
The incident was a good reminder for those who smoke to be very careful about how they dispose of those material when they're finished.
“The Olds Fire Department wants to remind the public to never leave smoking materials unsupervised, and to use only appropriate ash receptacles and never discard butts into the regular garbage,” Andrew wrote.
