Travellers driving down Deer Ridge Drive on Thursday afternoon discovered several blocks of the road cordoned off due to a residential fire.
The fire, at 67 Deer Ridge Drive, is believed to have started in a white Nissan truck parked on the driveway. The flames quickly spread into the front-facing garage, interior, and roof line.
Although there is extensive damage to the house, it appears no one was injured in the fire, according to bystanders. The homeowners also stood outside the home after the blaze.
Next door neighbour Steve Jacobs was alerted to the fire after hearing a succession of popping sounds.
“It sounded like fireworks — like a firecracker popping, so I went to take a look and saw my neighbour's truck on fire — the front of his truck. So, I immediately ran inside and called 911,” Jacobs said.
He immediately evacuated his home, concerned that a gas line ran between the two houses.
Two doors down, neighbour Jessica Cameron was alerted to the fire by a lady honking a car horn on the street. She immediately came out to see the goings on.
“I saw a lot of black smoke and heard a lot of bangs and explosions. Yeah, just a lot of smoke and red flames,” Cameron said.
She had high praise for the St. Albert Fire Department’s quick response.
“They were so swift in getting here. They were efficient and I was amazed at how fast they got the hoses out to start putting it out.”
The fire is currently under investigation, according to fire officials. No details have been released from St. Albert Fire Department or St. Albert RCMP.
