A small window would have made a world of difference in a fire that briefly trapped five Red Deer firefighters, injured another and destroyed a family’s home.
Fire investigators are now “75 per cent” certain that a smouldering cigarette caused the fire that broke out in a basement room at 56 Bettenson Street on Nov. 25, fire prevention officer Wes Van Bavel said on Tuesday.
Firefighters responding to the scene had no way of knowing where the fire had started or what they were walking into when they arrived at the split-level home at 4:50 that afternoon, said Van Bavel.
It was later determined that the fire had started in a windowless basement bedroom, vital information that was not available to the firefighters who were first on the scene.
Five crew had entered the house at the ground level, peering through the smoke for the glow from the fire. They were caught in a backdraft when they opened the door to the basement, feeding fresh air to an oxygen-deprived fire.
There was moment of panic because of the intense heat and because they could not see their way out, said Van Bavel.
It would not have happened if they had been able to see the fire from outside, he said.
While the five crew were able to exit safely, a sixth firefighter who had been working outside of the house suffered second-degree burns to his face after a second explosion, said Van Bavel.
Had there been a window in the basement room where the fire started, crews would have been able to ventilate to the outside and would likely have been able to save the house, he said.
Alberta building codes now require that every bedroom have a window of at least .35 square meter (minimum 15 by 36 inches) that can be opened to provide a means of escape if exits are blocked.
That provision did not exist prior to 1985.
Fortunately, there was no one home at the time of the Nov. 25 fire.
Van Bavel is using the Bettenson Street blaze to bring home the message of fire prevention during the Christmas season, when there is typically a 30-per cent rise in house fires within the City of Red Deer.
Careless disposal of smoking materials, unattended cooking and candles are the top three causes of house fires within the city, with cigarettes alone causing more than $800,000 in residential property damage so far this year, he said.
Smoking in the bedroom is especially dangerous, because that’s where people go to sleep and relax. It can take up to six hours for a smouldering cigarette to ignite in upholstery or in a peat moss planter, said Van Bavel.
Grease fires are among the most fierce, he said, advising that even a few seconds of inattention is all it takes to start a blaze on the stove. It’s better to shut the burner off and remove the pan from the heat than risk setting the kitchen on fire, he said.
Candles should also be kept well away from anything that can catch fire and should be placed in sturdy, non-combustible holders well away from drafts, children and pets.
bkossowan@www.reddeeradvocate.com