LETHBRIDGE:  With the Boston Pizza Restaurant inferno and the fire at the Lodge Hotel Wednesday morning, Lethbridge has tallied almost a dozen significant structure fires in just four months. Causes for the fires have been undetermined in some cases, while other fires have run the gamut from arson, to smoking in bed and electrical fires.

The rash of blazes began on November 17th, when Lethbridge Fire crews were called to the Cheesecake restaurant on Stafford Drive south. Damage was estimated at over a million dollars. At the time, Fire Investigator Mark Hoveling said they focused on a dryer in a staff changing area and the storage of rags, which may have been oily, as a possible cause. He said the fire would be extremely difficult to investigate, since the entire room where the fire started was engulfed in flames.

February 1st, Fire crews were called to the Van Haarlem rooming house fire in the 1200-block of 7th avenue south. Fires set on an upper floor and in the a basement fire eventually destroyed the entire building. Two women were charged with arson. One of the women, 40-year old Crystal Joyce Mills pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison. 25-year old Sheila May Crow-Eagle has yet to answer to the charge against her.

On February 2nd, 18 personnel and six trucks from three stations responded to reports of a house fire in the 900 block of 16th street south. Three residents had already escaped the building before emergency services arrived, but one elderly male was transported to hospital by ambulance with serious injuries. The Fire Prevention Bureau reported the cause of the fire on was accidental and reminded residents not to smoke in bed.

On February 9th, a house-fire resulted in the death of one individual. The Fire Department was called to a residence along the 700 block of 11 street South.Firefighters found a man's body inside. An investigation found the fire originated in the back living room on the main floor and the death of the 62-year old owner was deemed non-suspicious. Due to the extensive fire damage, fire officials were unable to determine the exact cause of the blaze. The Fire Prevention Bureau reminded everyone to have smoke detectors on every level on the home.

February 9th turned out to be a very busy day for the Lethbridge Fire Department. While Fire Crews were still dealing with the house fire on 11th street, another call came from the Fairmont area. Three fire stations and 21 men responded to a two storey house fire at 386 Fairmont Boulevard south, around 11:15-pm. When crews arrived, the house was already fully engulfed in flames. They were able bring the fire under control. The owner of the home suffered minor burns to his arm. The initial damage estimate is $260,000. A Fire Prevention news release indicates the blaze originated in the garage.

February 25th, An early morning fire could have been much worse if it hadn't been for a working sprinkler system. Fire started in a toaster about 1:17am at the Willowpointe Condominiums, at 485 Red Crow Boulevard West. There was no smoke detector in the unit but, the fire was quickly put out by the sprinkler system. The fire caused about $45,000 damage and one person was sent to hospital for smoke inhalation.

March 1st, a 59-year old man was arrested in connection with a suspicious garage fire. It happened along the 600 block of 18th street south, damaging three vehicles and causing about $200,000-in damage. Bradley Kim Bergman faces several charges including Arson to Property and Breach of a peace bond.

March 5th, a blaze that started in the attic just before 5:00-pm at the home known as the Last Chance Cat Ranch in the 3300 block of 6th Avenue South destroyed the entire home. There were an estimated 60-cats in the home and Fire Chief Brian Cornforth said about half that number managed to escape. Many were sent to a local vet for care.

It's expected the investigation into the Boston Pizza fire will take several days or more.