(Supplied by Coaldale and District Emergency Services)

By David Opinko

Coaldale house fire deemed suspicious, “illegal residents” evicted

Jun 10, 2021 | 2:11 PM

COALDALE, AB – Damages to a home in Coaldale are estimated to be around $100,000.

Around 3:00 pm on June 5, Coaldale and District Emergency Services (CDES) was called to a fire at 1511 21 Ave.

When the 14 firefighters arrived, the rear deck was fully engulfed in flames and the fire was spreading into the home and roof.

The blaze was put out quickly and they were able to keep it from impacting the next-door house.

“The fire-damaged home has been a known problem house for years in the neighbourhood,” reads a media release from CDES. “Coaldale Municipal Enforcement and the RCMP had worked recently to evict illegal residents and secure the property.”

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The cause of the fire is under investigation and is considered to be suspicious.

“CDES would like to encourage parents to discuss the dangers of playing with fire with their children and teenagers and the hazards of visiting abandoned structures. CDES has responded to two confirmed youth-set structure fires in the last 18 months.”

The fire department is reaching out to the public who may have been in the area between 2:30 pm and 2:50 pm who might have seen anyone fleeing the area. They are also looking for anyone who has photos, video, or security camera footage from that time.

Witnesses are asked to contact CDES by phone at 403-345-1331 or email firechief@coaldale.ca.