STONY PLAIN— Grass and house fires ravaged the Edmonton area over the weekend, leaving one family homeless and others recalling terrifying brushes with wild blazes.
Stony Plain fire chief Dan Badry says one fire gutted a condo.
No one was home and damage was pegged at $100,000.
Those living next door to the blaze are a couple from Germany who just moved into the area a few weeks ago.
Neighbours Lars Koening and Manuela Ellebruch said their own home suffered minor smoke damage.
Ellebruch said it “seemed like eternity” until fire crews arrived.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Several grass fires have also sparked up throughout Strathcona County and Edmonton.
“When the fire comes close and you live here, it’s scary,” area resident Heike Hatcher told CTV Edmonton.
“I’m going to be watching out all the time.”
Crews have been gearing up for wildfire season, since conditions are among the driest the province has seen in years.
Fire bans have been put into effect at 10 provincial parks and recreation areas due to dry conditions in parts of the province and remain effective until further notice.