'I heard a huge explosion': Early-morning fire breaks out in Whitehorse's Hillcrest neighbourhood

The shed of a home was engulfed in flames early Saturday morning in Whitehorse, but no one was injured, according to the local fire department.

The fire broke out around 7 a.m. local time in the city's Hillcrest neighbourhood at the intersection of HillcrestDrive and Dalton Trail.

Barry Blisner, platoon chief with the fire department, said that fire crews saw a fully engulfed shed. Initially, a dispatcher said a home's garage was on fire.

The fire had also spread toa part of a housenext door, Blisner added.

"Most of it was contained, the original shed or what's left of it now," said Blisner, about two hours after crews arrived.

"[There's] some exposuredamageto both the home on that lot and plus the adjacent home."

Blisnersaid everyone was out of the homes when fire crews arrivedand that no one was hurt.

Crews are dealing with propane in the neighbouring home, which seems to have some smoke damage inside, he said.

Though there were reports of explosions being heard around the neighbourhood, Blisner said he wasn't sure what may have caused the fire.

"We're not too sure yet, what was in the shed," said Blisner. "But definitely, we did get some reports of small explosions."

He said the fire department is just starting its investigation.

Power was shut off on HillcrestDrive Saturday morning.

Neighbours reporting explosion sounds

"I hearda huge explosion," Kirsten Martin, a resident who in the Granger neighbourhood, said through Facebook messenger.

"It shook my house in Granger, then I heard a rapid succession of very quick pops."

Black smoke could be seen from photos sent from Martin's bedroom window Saturday morning.

"Scary stuff," she said.

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