A fire that destroyed four homes in Sylvan Lake on May 18 was caused by embers from a fire pit, Sylvan Lake fire chief Cliff Brausen said Friday in a news release.
The investigation, conducted by Brausen with assistance from Alberta Emergency Management Agency staff, concluded that the fire originated in the rear of one of the houses in the area of an attached deck. It’s believed that embers in a free-standing fire pit were carried by high winds and ignited nearby combustibles, says the release.
Brausen credited area residents with providing valuable assistance in the investigation and that “a number of people came forward and provided photos and other information.”
Fourteen people were left homeless by the blaze on Wildrose Drive, and a number of other houses were damaged.