Cigarette blamed for seniors home fire
Posted Jun 23, 2014 7:15 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Calgary senior is in hospital being treated for minor burns to her face.
Just after 3 a.m., fire crews were called to Wilkinson House, a seniors’ home in the 2900 block of 26th Avenue SE.
Fire Battalion Chief John Cherweniuk tells 660News, somebody reported hearing an explosion.
“Crews suited up and went inside to investigate and while inside they located a smoldering fire in a suite on the first floor. There was a female patient there, a woman approximately 81 years old with minor burns to her face,” Cherweniuk said.
It’s believed the cause of the small fire was a cigarette being lit near an operational oxygen tank.
The unidentified senior is expected to recover.
About 70 residents had to spend about 30 minutes outside while fire crews investigated.
Damage to the home was minimal.
