NEWS PHOTO The cause of the house fire at 19 Chinook Drive on March 4 is related to the vehicle that was in the carport, according to fire investigator Medicine Hat Fire Service.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
Medicine Hat Fire Service says an investigation into the cause of an early morning house fire on March 4 has revealed it started in a vehicle.
“The fire started in the area of the vehicle, which was located in an attached carport,” said Carter Gramlich, fire investigator, Medicine Hat Fire Service.
The vehicle has been removed and work is continuing with the insurance company to determine the exact cause within the vehicle, said Gramlich.
“I’ve got nothing that would lead to believe it was suspicious at this time. It was pretty early in the morning and the fire unfortunately wasn’t noticed until it was quite large,” said Gramlich.
Fire services were called to 19 Chinook Dr., about 7 a.m. that morning. The occupants were out of town at the time and it was neighbours who called emergency services.
The first fire engine responded quickly because it was already in the area, said Gramlich. At that stage the fire was already spreading to the house.
A vehicle in an enclosed or semi-enclosed space, like a carport, will amplify the fire, he said. In the enclosed area the heat radiates back and accelerates the speed at which it burns.
“A vehicle on its own will burn very rapidly. There’s lots of flammable and combustible components within a vehicle, plastics and of course fuel and various oils,” said Gramlich.
There was a wooden deck above the carport and the house had vinyl siding covering wood siding underneath, said Gramlich. These contributed to the spread of the fire.
Gramlich says the damage to the home is significant and it will be up to the insurance company to decide whether it can be repaired or will have to be demolished.
Gramlich confirmed that the smoke alarm in the home was activated during the fire but there was nobody home to be alerted. There were no injuries as a result of the fire.
