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Two apartment buildings evacuated in southeast Edmonton fire

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Edmonton fire crews battle early morning blaze at an apartment building located at 2504-40 St. in Edmonton February, 28, 2022.
Edmonton fire crews battle early morning blaze at an apartment building located at 2504-40 St. in Edmonton February, 28, 2022. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
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Emergency Medical Services transported two people to hospital — one of whom is in critical condition — after a fire tore through a southeast Edmonton condo building early Monday morning, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) says.

In an email statement, EFRS spokeswoman Brittany Eveneshen said the service started getting multiple 911 calls just before 2 a.m for a fire at the Ridgewood Gardens complex on 25 Avenue and 40 Street in the Bisset neighbourhood.

Fire crews arrived five minutes later to find a working fire at a four-storey walk-up, Eveneshen said, adding that two 32-unit buildings affected by the fire were evacuated.

Eveneshen said 12 trucks (about 45 firefighters) responded to the blaze, and EFRS’s Emergency Response Support Team attended the scene to help displaced residents.

EFRS does not currently know the number of people who required assistance, said Eveneshen, adding that Edmonton Transit Service supplied two buses to help keep residents warm during the ordeal.

In an email statement to Postmedia, Alberta Health Services spokesman Kerry Williamson said Emergency Medical Services responded to the fire shortly after it was reported and transported two men to hospital — one in his 70s and in stable condition, and another in his 30s in critical condition.

Eveneshen said crews had the fire under control just after 4 a.m., and remain on the scene to deal with hot spots while fire investigators are looking into the cause.

In October 2020, EFRS crews responded to a fire at the Ridgewood Gardens complex that investigators connected to improperly discarded smoking materials. That fire, which investigators believe originated from a fourth-floor balcony, caused an estimated $1 million in damage to the structure and $500,000 in damage to contents.

Edmonton fire crews battle early morning blaze at an apartment building located at 2504-40 St. in Edmonton February, 28, 2022.
Edmonton fire crews battle early morning blaze at an apartment building located at 2504-40 St. in Edmonton February, 28, 2022. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia

— With files from Anna Junker

Source: EdmontonJournal

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