Over the weekend, Lethbridge experienced two separate fire incidents.

During the early morning hours of both Feb.3 and Feb. 5 the Lethbridge Fire Department raced to each location and attempted to control and extinguish the fires.

 

On the morning of Feb.3, a suspicious vehicle fire was reported on the north side of the city. Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters saw a parked car had been set on fire and was severely damaged.

 

Lethbridge Police said in a media release that no one was injured and investigation of the cause will continue. The incident is believed to be an act of arson.

 

Around 3 a.m. Sunday morning, police and fire department officials were again notified of a fire, this time on the city’s south side.

 

Seven fire units, carrying 19 firefighters, arrived on scene while flames engulfed a home. Firefighters were unable to extinguish the blaze before the damage became extensive.

 

“From what we can tell the fire was caused by an improperly disposed of cigarette,” explains investigating officer Marc Royer. “We will never have an exact cause, just speculation based on the evidence.”

 

This winter, Lethbridge has experienced unseasonably warm weather. Royer says that, had there been snow on the ground at the time, this fire may not have happened.

 

A fire ban is currently in effect for the Oldman River Valley area.

 

Fire marshal Dan Knox says the fire ban is attributed to the construction currently taking place in the coulees.

 

“There’s no water on in the river valley right now,” says Knox. “We don’t want any fires down there with no water.”

 

Knox says that so far, the fire prevention team has had no trouble with residents respecting fire ban restrictions.

 

“Once the construction finishes down there, the ban will be lifted,” Knox says.

 

Construction in the river valley has been in progress since last fall and will continue until August. Currently, workers are tasked with pipe-placement for both water and sewage from the west to the south side of Lethbridge.