By Matt Nemeth

Cause of Southridge fire determined

Jun 12, 2017 | 1:37 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Investigators have determined that errant smoking material — most likely a cigarette — caused the fire in Southridge Saturday night.

The fire tore through two homes then ignited a third across the street shortly before 5 pm on the 300 block of Sprague Way SE.

It’s been confirmed that the fire originated beneath the deck of a blue bi-level home on the street, which is the house that was most severely damaged by the blaze.

The Red Cross is currently providing eight people from three different families with assistance says community outreach associate Tina Wideen.

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“They’re (the families) scared, a little disoriented,” said Wideen Monday morning. “They’re doing OK but they’re definitely going to have some challenges trying to work through all of this.”

A GoFundMe page for one of the families has been set up. One day after being created it sits just $275 short of its $5,000 goal.

“From what I hear the community is really rallying behind (all of) them and they’ve got some good support,” Wideen says.

Classified as a personal disaster by the Red Cross, the organization gives people food, clothing, and shelter for the first 72 hours after an incident like the fire Saturday night.

In addition to the three homes that were directly damaged by fire, deputy chief Lance Purcell says a number of houses in the neighbourhood have been affected by the large amount of smoke that accompanied the inferno.

It’s believed Saturday’s fire is the first instance where three finished homes have been destroyed by a single fire.