Stonebridge condo fire sparked by cigarette put out in flower pot

At least three homes are destroyed after a fire burned through a townhouse complex in Saskatoon’s Stonebridge neighbourhood Saturday.

Crews were called to the fire at Langlois Way shortly before 9:30 a.m. and arrived to see flames shooting from the roof of the three-storey building.

Within a matter of minutes, crews were able to dwindle the flames nearly out of sight and managed to have the blaze completely under control within an hour.

A media release from the Saskatoon Fire Department said no one was inside the building at the time of the fire.

An estimated 200 people, made up of mostly neighbours, entered the gated complex to watch the fire take hold of the corner unit.

One woman in a adjoining home told 650 CKOM she awoke to the sound and smell of flames. She noticed an orange glow coming from behind her curtains, and opened them to see flames immediately outside her window. She escaped unharmed.

By 8 p.m., fire investigators determined the blaze originated on a balcony, after a cigarette was put out in a flower pot.

Three out of the building’s six units sustained heavy fire, smoke and water damage in the fire.

The estimated damage to the building is $1 million.

The Saskatoon Fire Department is reminding people to avoid using flower pots as ashtrays as peat moss contained in flower pots is extremely combustible when dried out.