Two separate lunchtime fires cause ‘considerable’ damage to Regina homes

Fire crews in Regina had a busy lunchtime on Wednesday, responding to two separate fires about 45 minutes apart.

The first was called in at around 11 a.m., on Nagel Crescent in the Glencairn neighbourhood.

According to Neil Sundeen, the deputy chief of operations with Regina Fire and Protective Services, crews found heavy smoke and fire coming out of the home when they arrived. They went into the house with a very aggressive attack.

“They located the fire, actually, in the basement and it burned through the floor up to the main floor. They conducted searches (and) they found no occupants in the home. Even with the structural integrity issues, they were able to bring the fire under control in about 20 minutes,” said Sundeen.

Then, about 45 minutes later, firefighters were driving down Dewdney Avenue when they saw smoke rising above the buildings. They made a turn and ended up finding a house on fire on Athol Street before it had even been called in.

Next-door neighbour Sherry Larocque said she didn’t know there was a fire until she saw the trucks.

“I saw the reflection of the fire trucks and I came out and looked and there was all this smoke,” said Larocque.

Sundeen said members of the first crew were able to give the fire a quick hit from the outside while they were waiting for backup. Then, when more crews arrived, they went in and attacked the flames.

“This one had actually grown to the point where it actually burned through the roof of the house. They were able to knock it down and had the fire under control in about 25 minutes,” said Sundeen.

In both cases there wasn’t anyone in the house at the time of the fire, and no one from the fire crews were hurt.

Investigators are trying to figure out what started the fires. As of early Wednesday afternoon, Sundeen said it was too early to speculate.