WESTLOCK – A fire on 105 Street early last Tuesday morning (July 29) left some residents in the neighbourhood frightened and confused.
Many people in the neighbourhood were woken early in the morning around 2 a.m. on July 29 to sounds of explosions and popping with a fire burning at 10312 105 St. right next to the Salvation Army Community Thrift Store. Several residents in the neighbourhood also reported screaming coming from the property about a car that was parked in a custom garage in the property’s backyard.
The fire burned the car and custom garage and spread to the adjacent property which sustained severe damage. The fire burned the adjacent property’s fence and spread into the home’s attic. The family that lived in the home were able to escape without serious injuries.
“I’m just thankful my wife and son are still alive,” said Dale Croteau, a resident of the home. "When I heard her trembling voice at 2 a.m. telling me our house was on fire I was horrified," he said in a later statement on Facebook.
Residents of the neighbourhood have previously reported people who broke into the car that was parked in the custom garage during the winter.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
A previous house fire in December 2023 also rocked the neighbourhood which has become increasingly unsafe for residents. There was also a dumpster fire in the alley behind the thrift store last year which burned for several hours without being reported or extinguished. Residents have reported increasing instances of drug use, theft and vagrancy in the neighbourhood which possibly contributed to these incidents.
"The neighbours along the back alley all moved within the last year because of this issue," said Sera Gibson, a resident in the neighbourhood. "Like my one neighbour moved out because she was 80 and too afraid to live at home. I've had three or four neighbours move out on the other side because it's not safe in this area."
Gibson also alleged that instances of break-ins to vacant properties in the neighbourhood were so common that there were some occasions when no one showed up after 911 calls.
Anyone with additional information on the July 29 fire can contact the Westlock RCMP at 780-349-4492. To remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers can be contacted at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.p3tips.com, or using the “P3 Tips” app.
