Crews battle house fire in frigid temperatures

It was a cold start to the day for firefighters dealing with a blaze at a home in the Nutana neighbourhood Wednesday morning.

A three-story home at 107 11th Street East caught fire around 6:30 a.m.

Smoke could be seen coming from the home’s third floor, where a dozen firefighters battled the blaze for over an hour.

The fire department said crews reported flames showing from the roof before getting to work. They had to knock down the fire before being able to enter.

Due to conditions, a second alarm was initiated and three extra engines were sent to the scene.

The fact that smoke detectors save lives was demonstrated once again when they alerted the three people in the house at the time of the fire and allowed them to evacuate safely.   

Firefighters remained at the scene of the house fire at 107 11th Street East for over four hours this morning. Although the fire was brought under control in 1 hour and 25 minutes, crews continued to extinguish hot spots and go through the contents of the house for several more hours.

Weather conditions and a balloon frame construction, two and a half story house that had been divided into three rental suites, increased the challenges associated with extinguishing the fire.

The fire caused an estimated $300,000 in damage and is still under investigation.

Fire crews attacking a blaze here on 11tth Street East #yxe pic.twitter.com/ywx8uNiWxR

— Brent Bosker (@brentbosker) January 4, 2017