Fire and explosion rocks Sturgeon County neighbourhood

CTV Edmonton: Home levelled by explosion An early morning explosion has levelled a home, taking with it 40 years of memories for one family.

Sturgeon County and neighbouring fire fighters were called to a fire in Sturgeon County, approximately one hour north of Edmonton, early Thursday morning.

Neighbours in Pine Sands Estates, near Sandy Lake, said they heard what sounded like explosions coming from the mobile home.

“From the reports that I have, it was an initial large blast,” Sturgeon County Fire Chief Pat Mahoney said. “Most of the neighbours woke to a large explosion this morning and a fully engulfed trailer.

“So by the time our crews got here, the fire was smaller, and they were able to extinguish it fairly quickly and get it under control.”

The owner of the home, identified as Randy Johnston, wasn’t home at the time – but his mother rushed out to the property to see what had happened.

“He’s pretty shook up about it all, he has no home, and everything he owned was in there,” Elsie Johnston said.

The owner’s cousin told CTV News the home carried a lot of sentimental value for Johnston.

“It was his dad’s place, and when his dad passed away, he bought it,” Wendy Pasko, Johnston’s cousin, said. “He just wanted to have it good, and that his dad would be proud he fixed it up, it was good – and now it’s gone.”

Despite the home's destruction, Johnston told CTV News he will rebuild.

No one in the surrounding homes was hurt, but at least one of the nearby houses was also damaged.

With files from Susan Amerongen