Downtown house seriously damaged after Sunday afternoon fire - no injuries reported

A single storey house in the downtown area was seriously damaged by fire on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 4.  

Fort McMurray firefighters were called out to a MacIver Street house after smoke was reported coming from the building around 2 p.m. Several units, including two pumper crews, heavy rescue unit, ladder truck and EMS paramedics responded to the scene.

Crews initially entered the building to conduct a search and attack the fire from inside the structure. Teams were pulled back to a defensive posture after fire breached the main floor.

Firefighters were able to prevent damage to surrounding structures, but the building received heavy fire, smoke, and water damage. Crews were on the scene for several hours.

No one was reported to be in the home at the time of the fire. Regional Emergency Services fire investigators are now working to determine a cause.