Smart meter catches fire at home in east Regina

CTV Regina Published Friday, November 7, 2014 12:43PM CST Last Updated Friday, November 7, 2014 2:48PM CST

SaskPower is investigating yet another fire involving a smart meter, this time at a home in east Regina.

The latest incident happened at a house in the 2400 block of Swayze Crescent early Friday morning.

Homeowner Joan Riemer said she was woken by the sound of loud bangs coming from the back wall of the house around 1:30 a.m.

I thought it was somebody hitting it with a bat, Riemer said. I looked out my bedroom and I saw flames, and then I knew what happened.

Riemer says she went outside and found that the smart meter had melted and the cover on a nearby barbecue was on fire. She pulled the burning barbecue away from the home and called 911.

No one was injured and the fire caused minor scorching to the cedar siding of the house.

Riemer was the only one in the home at the time, and she says its lucky she was there to call for help.

SaskPower replaced the melted meter with a traditional unit and restored power to the home about an hour later.

Spokesperson Tyler Hopson said it's concerning whenever there is a malfunction, and the company is working to remove smart meters as quickly as possible.

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Smart meter catches fire at home in east Regina