2 in hospital, 20 displaced after fire at central Edmonton apartment building

Two people were taken to the hospital after an apartment building fire in the Wîhkwêntôwin neighbourhood on Wednesday evening.

Fire crews arrived at Deville apartments at 100 Avenue and 115 Street around 5:53 p.m. The fire was upgraded to a second-alarm fire at 6:14 p.m.

A district chief on scene told CityNews the fire started on the balcony of a sixth-floor apartment and heavy flames were seen coming through the front.

One person needed to be hospitalized after they jumped from the balcony. Their partner was also taken to hospital. Their condition and the extent of their injuries was not immediately known.

An early investigation suggests the cause of the fire was a charging e-bike on the balcony.

The district chief says fire personnel found lithium batteries inside the apartment and their hazardous material crews responded. The crews placed the batteries in an oversized drum and put sand on top to stop any more combustion.

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services says eight crews responded. According to the district chief, additional units were called and rotated every hour to keep firefighters fresh.

Residents from the eighth floor down were displaced and were not let back inside the building. People whose units were not affected were asked to close their doors and not venture out.

According to EFRS, 80 people were evacuated; 20 were displaced and were found housing; and 60 were either able to return to their units or were staying with family or friends.

The fire was out at 7:44 p.m.

EFRS say investigators returned to the site Thursday morning to investigate. An early damage estimate was $500,000, EFRS said.

EFRS Assistant Deputy Chief Justin Lallemand was scheduled to hold a press conference on lithium-ion battery safety Friday morning.