$525K damage bill estimated after fire spreads across 2 Saskatoon homes

Firefighters battled strong wind gusts to extinguish a fire that engulfed one home before spreading to a neighbouring house on Carr Crescent in Saskatoon overnight.

Fire investigators are still looking into what startedthe blaze, which is estimated to have caused about $525,000 in damages. The fire department saidwitnesses will be interviewed over the weekend.

Occupants called 911

The fire happened at about 1:45 a.m. CST on Friday, when the occupants of a house on the 1000 block called 911 to say their house was on fire.

Whenteams of firefighters arrived in fivetrucks, they found a "fully involved" fire at a single-storey home.

Flames pouring from the front and side of the house extended into the neighbouring home.

While firefighters worked to douse the flames, residents were evacuated from eight homes, including the two involved in the fire. A group of five people and one pet had been inside the house where the fire started.

Fire investigators have concluded the fire started in the garage of the first house.

Strong winds create difficultconditions

The fire department initially responded with three engine companies, an aerial ladder truck and a rescue truck.

But with strong wind gusts aggravating the blaze, an incident commander called for a further two pumps, another ladder truck and a second rescue truck.

Firefighters attacked the flames from the outside to slow the spread of the fire to the neighbouring property.

By 2:29 a.m., the blaze was under control.

A fire investigator was at the scene of the fire early Friday morning.

The cause of the fire and the cost of the damages are not yet known.