Around 12:31 am on Saturday (June 24), firefighters in Airdrie responded to a fire at a home on Reunion Terrace.

Deputy Fire Chief Garth Rabel said that on arrival, crews found the home's fence and attached deck engulfed in flames.

"When they arrived, they found that RCMP members already on scene had breached the front door to raise the alarm in case anybody was in the house, but there was nobody home at the time of the incident."

The fire was threatening the house, having melted the vinyl siding and looked to enter the house through the eaves. However, fire crews quickly extinguished the blaze and contained the damage to the exterior siding, deck and fence. The damage is estimated at $50,000. Thankfully, no one was injured.

The Fire Prevention Bureau assessed the scene and determined the source of the blaze.

"Cigarette butts were put into plant material in a planter and left there. Over time, conditions were such that it ignited the material."

Rabel said that it can take hours for the right conditions to coalesce and cause this type of fire.

This is not the first fire caused this year by careless disposal of cigarettes. Among other recent fires in Airdrie, one was caused by the illegal use of fireworks. As the weather heats up and things dry out, Rabel says caution and care should be a priority.

“We urge everyone to be extremely careful and cautious where fire can be a result of our actions. Whether it is cigarettes, backyard fire pits or barbecues, safe and proper practices are required every time.”

When it comes to smoking, that means never throwing butts out of windows or snuffing them out in planters.

 

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