Work stoppage ordered for Parkview infill developer after Monday house fire

The developer behind a number of infill projects in Edmonton’s Parkview neighbourhood, including a property that caught fire Monday, has been ordered to stop work by safety officials.

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Records dated for Wednesday show Alberta Occupational Health and Safety issued an order for Davach Properties to halt operations, two days after its property on the corner of 147 Street and 88 Avenue went up in flames.

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No injuries were reported, but the fire was deemed suspicious by firefighters, and police have taken over the investigation.

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Alongside the stop work order, OHS records show two other orders, also dated for Wednesday, related to potentially harmful substances, and a third related to general obligations for contractors. Records show this marks the second stop-work order issued to Davach since June last year.

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The developer was issued three other OHS orders in 2026, one of which was also related to harmful substances, another related to hazard assessment, and a third related to excavation and tunnelling.

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A spokesperson for Davach Properties told Postmedia that the order was for the same home that had caught fire, and it expects the stop-work order to be lifted tomorrow.

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The developer cited structural issues but also said there is asbestos in the floor of the house, adding the floor had been burnt out during the fire. Davach said workers had been midway through the abatement for the asbestos.

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Davach said it began demolition of the home following the fire, saying it got the OK from officials, but then was told to stop.

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Workers have been spraying the house with water in order to keep the asbestos wet and keep dust down.

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A statement to Postmedia from Alberta OHS confirmed officers inspected the project and ordered a work stoppage.

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“Limited work is permitted to occur at the site involving the wetting of materials to minimize the release of dust while the Stop Work Order is in effect,” the response added.

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The statement also noted Alberta laws require employers to remove any materials that might release asbestos fibres prior to demolishing a building or other structure. They’re also required to notify officials at least 72 hours before beginning work that could release asbestos.

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Just hours before the fire, around 200 people gathered across the street to protest at least seven infill projects coming into the neighbourhood. Residents said multi-unit infill is hurting the character of Edmonton’s mature neighbourhoods.

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Some of the residents who were at the protest on Sunday were on the street Monday, watching fire crews clear debris from the vacant property. Investigators on the scene could not comment on the fire.