Firefighters rushed to a Morinville condo fire on Saturday.
The fire started around 5 p.m. in a condo building on 101 Avenue, and quickly spread to a neighbouring building and garage.
Four units in one building and the garage were destroyed. The other building was damaged from the smoke and heat but the residents have since moved back in. No one was hurt in the fire.
"There are probably about 14 people that are displaced at this time," said Morinville fire chief Brad Boddez. "We had two suites that were completely lost and then the other two suites have severe roof damage or third floor damage."
Boddez said they were able to get the fire under control around 9 p.m. They also had help from crews in Legal and St. Albert. St. Albert firefighters arrived with the city's ladder truck.
While there is some talk in the community, the cause of the fire remains under investigation, he said.
"It wasn't a propane barbecue or anything like that," he said.
The fire was one of the largest in Morinville this year. Boddez added that fighting fires of this size is always difficult but even more so when it's dry and hot outside.
He asks people to be careful with cigarettes and other flammable materials.
"We definitely need some rain," he said. "It's still very dry out there."
Fundraisers
Some residents of Morinville have now started fundraisers for the families displaced by the fire. But Melonie Dziwenka with Morinville Family and Community Support Services asks people to hold off with any monetary, clothing or furniture donations until they know what the victims need.
"We have such an amazing community. It truly shows how fast families are ready to wrap around this family," she said. "But they are not even sure what they need right now so we just want people to have a little patience."
Dziwenka said she is keeping track of people who offered to donate items, in case the victims need them later on. She also plans to post any updates on Facebook and Morinville's website.
For now, she is working with the Midstream Support Society, the food bank and victim services to look after people's immediate needs for food, shelter and emotional support. People can also donate to those organizations, she said.
"We just want to be careful at this time because we don't actually know what the needs are," she said. "It's more important right now that we have food and personal hygiene and gift cards to go to local restaurants."
To get in touch with Dziwenka call 780-939-7833. The Midstream Support Society can be reached at 780-939-3593.
