Million-dollar Mill Woods Edmonton fire sparked by burning cigarette butt in flower pot

Fir Fighters trying to douse the flames

Edmonton - A cigarette butt discarded in a planter on the back deck of a Mill Woods home sparked the $1-million blaze that razed two homes.

Edmonton Fire Rescue investigators determined that the 10 p.m. Oct. 20 blaze originated on the back deck of a home at 20 Street and 37A Avenue. The cigarette butt was discarded in a planter, smoldered in the soil, and then eventually ignited the plastic planter and spread up the vinyl siding into the attic.

Two homes were lost in the fire and it required 45 firefighters about five hours to bring the blaze under control.

Fire officials remind everyone that organic matter in planters insulates cigarette butts rather than extinguishing them. Smoldering can last for several hours until ignition point is reached.

Fire officials urge smokers to use a metal can with sand or commercial ashtray to dispose of smoking materials.

Dry conditions have also led to an "extreme" warning on the Fire Weather Index. Fire Rescue is not currently issuing any permits for open burning until the weather conditions change.