Cigarette butts sparked fire on Hargreaves Lane, fire department says

Cigarette butts sparked a house fire on Hargreaves Lane, according to the Saskatoon Fire Department.

Firefighters were called to Hargreaves Lane at 7:45 p.m. Monday, the fire department said, where they found a fire that extended from the basement to the roof.

Three fire engines, a ladder truck, a rescue truck and the battalion chief all responded to the scene, and the street and local utilities were shut down to help keep the public safe.

The blaze was put out an hour later, and the work required firefighters to enter the burning building in order to completely extinguish the fire inside.

According to the fire department, the blaze caused an estimated $750,000 in damages, and was sparked by cigarettes that weren’t properly disposed of.

The fire originated in a pillar that supports the roof near the front door, the fire department said, and a flower bed surrounding the pillar contained a paper cup that was being used as an ashtray along with peat moss.

“Cigarette butts were identified inside the pillar with the interior wood frame sustaining fire damage,” the fire department said.

Saskatoon firefighters offered some advice for the best containers to use for cigarette butts: “Potting soil, combustible material such as paper cups, plastic containers and plastic pots are not appropriate cigarette receptacles. These products are prone to heat and igniting on fire. Please use a non-combustible container such as glass or metal with a lid and water inside to fully submerge and extinguish smoking material. Stay safe.”