A picture taken after the fire last Wednesday night. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Community support

Midtown homeowner thankful for fast response of neighbours

Aug 16, 2021 | 5:00 PM

A Prince Albert family is expressing their gratitude to neighbours for potentially preventing a far more serious incident from happening.

On Aug. 11, shortly before 9 p.m., the Prince Albert Fire Department responded to the 500 block of Eighth St. E. A detached garage was found burning but was extinguished by fire personnel. There was substantial damage to the exterior of the building and the nearby fence. The family was away at the lake at the time, when they saw a post on the Midtown Neighbourhood Watch Facebook Page.

“We got a call shortly after thar saying it was our garage on fire,” the homeowner told paNOW.

The neighbours had been the ones responsible for calling 9-1-1, and when the family returned to the city roughly an hour later, the neighbours were there moving various items in the yard to a safe distance.

“I’m just happy for the Midtown Watch. It got caught a lot faster than if people weren’t watching,” the homeowner said.

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The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, however, based on surveillance camera footage, the homeowner believes the fire was deliberately set. At least two people were seen sneaking around near the garage.

“Not even 30 seconds later there’s smoke coming up,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell