Lacombe parents and their six children are temporarily homeless after a kitchen fire caused $100,000 damage to their rental duplex.
Cooking oil overheating on a stove caused a blaze to break out at a duplex in downtown Lacombe at about 5 p.m. Friday.
Although the family of eight was home at the time, everyone managed to escape the blaze before one of the parents called 9-1-1, said Lacombe Fire Chief Ted van Delden.
About a dozen firefighters from Lacombe Fire Services responded with two fire engines and a rescue unit.
They had the fire under control within about 20 minutes, said Van Delden, who noted a firefighter did enter the burning home to rescue two kittens.
But he feels this wasn’t overly risky as the blaze had been contained to the kitchen area. The other side of the duplex was not affected by the fire, he added.
The Red Cross assisted the temporarily homeless family for the first 72 hours, offering food, shelter, clothing and additional services.
The Lacombe parents are now staying with relatives, along with their children who range from about 2 to 14 years of age, said Debbie Barron, of the Lacombe Police department’s Victims Services.
The local organization is helping the family, as is Family and Community Support Services (FCSS).
Barron said the duplex owner did have fire insurance and will be working to repair the damage so the family can move back in as soon as possible.
But the renters did not have contents insurance and can’t re-enter the home yet to see if clothing can be salvaged from smoke damage, added Barron.
While the father of the family recently started a new job, she believes the parents and children will still likely welcome donations of clothing and other items.
Anyone who would like to make a cash or clothing donation should call Barron at 403-782-3279, Ext. 152.
lmichelin@www.reddeeradvocate.com