Incident report - Two Fort McMurray houses lost in overnight fires

Fort McMurray firefighters and fire investigators responded to two separate, serious fires overnight. No injuries were reported, but a mobile home in the Gregoire neighborhood and a single-family home in lower downtown were significantly damaged and are considered total losses. 

Firefighters first responded to a Gregoire Crescent mobile home shortly before 6 p.m. for a fire in the kitchen. The homeowner was able to put out the fire, caused by hot oil on the stovetop, with a fire extinguisher before firefighters arrived. 

Just before midnight, fire crews were called back after the fire restarted in a ceiling space. On arrival, firefighters reported fire and smoke coming from the roof. They worked until 2 a.m. to extinguish the fire.

A little more than an hour later—shortly after 3 a.m.— a 911 caller reported smoke coming from the roof of a downtown house on Demers Drive. 

The first emergency responders on the scene reported smoke and flames emerging from the roof of the two-storey house. Several units, including pumpers and a ladder truck, along with paramedics and RCMP, responded. Fire crews remained on scene until almost 6 a.m. 

An investigation into the cause of this fire is underway.