This past Sunday, May 7, the Stettler Regional Fire Station 1 responded to a structure fire on 50th Ave. at approximately 4:45 p.m. The fire, according to Mark Dennis, Stettler fire chief, was contained within the lower level.
Residents of the building were evacuated and relocated, and will not return until further notice as power and gas supplies have been cut off.
“We have been able to determine the origin of the room where the fire started at Posh Esthetics and we were able to contain it there, but there has been extensive smoke damage to both businesses, and severe smoke damage within the entire building,” Dennis said. “There have been no injuries, and we are still determining the cause of the fire.”
Some of the firefighters from the Stettler station had been in Red Deer that day, taking a practical exam, which prompted Big Valley fire department to join forces and help put out the fire.
However, Dennis said that the rest of his team showed up towards the end, as they were halfway on their way back already.
“Since there are a number of insurance companies involved and the owner of the building, we are planning to meet later this week,” Dennis added. “The insurance companies will have to bring in their investigators and all parties are planning to work together to speed up the process, it’s just better that way.”
Dennis said that there has been an investigation pause but it will resume as soon as everyone has met.
“The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and it will be a while till we determine it,” Dennis explained.