Regina Fire says Centennial Street fire caused by cigarette butt

An improperly discarded cigarette butt caused the apartment complex fire on Centennial Street on Saturday night.

Regina Fire and Protective Services Deputy Chief Gord Hewitt shared that finding with reporters Monday afternoon after the fire department had finished its investigation.

Hewitt said the fire, which occurred near the University of Regina, started outside on the deck of a ground-floor unit at the end of the property.

“Once the cigarette was disposed, it obviously wasn’t disposed in the proper manner so it smoldered (and) eventually led to further burning, travelled up the side of the building and eventually engulfed the two properties,” Hewitt said.

He said the extent of the damage was significant and two of the building’s 16 units were “completely” destroyed. Some people living in 14 other units have been able to return home.

“We do know that the smoke travelled throughout the rest of the (units) but most of the individuals from the other (units) have actually been able to relocate back into the property,” Hewitt said. “We did evacuate everybody from the time of the fire, but the two main (units) where the fire occurred — bottom suite, top suite – they are not inhabitable.”

Hewitt said seven people will be displaced by the destruction of the two units and Regina Fire will work with them to find places to stay.

During the evacuation, Regina Fire was helped by Mobile Crisis Services.

Hewitt confirmed that two people were “severely” injured while trying to escape the fire by jumping out of the building, but said their injuries weren’t life-threatening.

Hewitt also clarified the two people were not injured by the flames.

“They weren’t burn injuries. They were injuries related to cutting (when they were) coming through the window and the fall from the second floor to the main floor,” he said.

Hewitt said there currently wasn’t an estimate on the dollar amount of the damage done to the building.

Deputy Fire Chief Gord Hewitt said cigarette butts should be disposed of inside metal containers with non-flammable materials. (Daniel Reech/980 CJME)

Hewitt said the proper way to dispose of a cigarette is to put it inside a metal container with sand — something that isn’t flammable.

“If you put a cigarette into sand or crushed gravel in this type of container, it will eliminate the fire or the chance of further ignition,” he said.

Hewitt said discarding cigarettes into containers of dirt or peat moss can allow cigarettes to continue to burn.

Hewitt said Regina Fire had 22 personnel on the scene with four pumps, one ladder truck and one command unit in addition to its medical response unit, which treated the injured people before turning them over to EMS.

He said the fire department was on scene for four hours, although its investigation team stayed behind afterwards.

The City of Regina deals with about $3.5 million in damage annually from improperly discarded smoking materials, according to Hewitt.