Regina firefighters battled an early morning blaze, along with extreme cold, early Thursday morning.
The fire department responded to a call about a house fire on the 2800 block around 7:30 a.m. Crews were able to keep the fire contained to the back bedroom.
Two people got out and were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.
The house sustained significant damage and an investigation is underway to determine what caused it.
Deputy Fire Chief Layne Jackson said the weather causes problem when they are battling fires.
“It causes a lot of hazards and risks to our personnel and difficulties in doing our job effectively,” Jackson said.
He explained that while firefighters’ gear provides some insulation, they are still exposed to the cold. Jackson said water from the firehoses quickly turns to ice in extreme cold temperatures, creating tripping hazards and potentially interfering with equipment.
Jackson said they see an increase in fires caused by candles and heaters at this time of year.
— With files from Kevin Martel