Yet another fire in Airdrie has drawn a response from local firefighters.
According to a City of Airdrie press release, Airdrie Fire Department members responded to a reported structure fire in the 100 block of Ridgebrook Drive SW on April 26 at approximately 2 p.m.
"When fire crews arrived on scene, they found light smoke conditions showing from the interior of the attached front garage of a two-storey residential home," the release stated.
"Firefighters were met by the homeowner, who advised that while attempting to remove and replace a vehicle fuel tank, residual gasoline vapours were ignited by a power drill."
The homeowner initially attempted to extinguish the fire with a portable fire extinguisher, according to the release. An alert bystander entered the garage and pulled the burning material outside to the front parking pad, where it was fully extinguished with water from the residence's garden hose.
The release stated the homeowner received minor burns to his hand and received treatment from AFD prior to his being transferred to the care of Alberta Health Services paramedics on scene.
"Once it was confirmed that the fire had been completely extinguished, firefighters conducted a thorough inspection of the interior of the garage to ensure that fire had not extended," the release stated.
The Fire Prevention Bureau has determined the fire was caused by the ignition of gasoline vapours due to an external ignition source. Damage has been estimated at $3,000, according to the release.
The incident in Ridgegate marks the fourth structure fire AFD crews have responded to in the last two weeks, amid what has been a dry start to spring. AFD recently battled fires in Sagewood on April 16, in Bayside on April 13 and Balzac on April 17.
Rocky View County issued a fire ban on April 27, in response to dry conditions.
