Clareview condo fire started by cigarette discarded in diaper pail
A cigarette butt discarded in a diaper pail caused the $16.3-million fire that destroyed most of a four-storey building at a northeast Edmonton condominium complex.
“This was a devastating fire, we are extremely fortunate that there were no fatalities and no major injuries sustained by citizens or our crews,” said fire chief Ken Block.
“This fire was completely preventable,” he said. “Edmontonians need to understand their actions can have profound and devastating effects on their neighbours, community and city.
“If this fire had started at a different time of day, the outcome may have been very different.”
The fire broke out on a balcony at the complex at 301 Clareview Station Drive West just before 5 p.m. on Friday. It left up to 200 people homeless.
Two firefighters and one civilian suffered minor injuries.
Block said the fire was the second major fire in Edmonton in less than a year caused by smoking material.
Residents of 44 of the 106 suites damaged in the fire are being allowed to retrieve personal belongings from the site Monday.
