Many Westlock residents awoke to the sound of sirens last Wednesday morning as emergency crews responded to a house fire downtown.
Westlock RCMP say that a concerned neighbour noticed smoke billowing from the house at 10148 105 St. and quickly phone in the fire. Westlock RCMP, the Westlock Fire Department and the Westlock Rural Fire Department arrived on scene and the blaze was quickly extinguished.
Town fire chief Stuart Koflick said when crews arrived on scene they saw smoke coming from the building.
“Crews initially made an interior attack of the structure and found the building to be quite hot and untenable,” he said. “We switched to a defensive operation and started to cool the fire down from the outside, reducing the heat from outside the building then making entry to put out the fire.”
He said his investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing and that he could only provide basic details as of Friday last week.
“The fire was contained to one room of the structure, with damage — smoke, heat and water damage — throughout.”
Fire crews were able to save the structure itself, although the damage to the interior and exterior of the building is apparent.
Westlock RCMP Cpl. Sandra Milner said while the incident is still under investigation, police have not ruled out the possibility of suspicious activity or foul play.
“It hasn’t been ruled out; it’s still under investigation,” she said. “We’re working with the Westlock fire department to determine the cause.”
She also said Westlock RCMP had responded to a complaint at that address earlier that day.
“I can confirm that we were called to that area earlier that same morning,” she said. “Just suspicious people and damage to property.”
Police are asking anybody that might have information about the house fire to contact Westlock RCMP at 780-349-4491 or to report their information anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
