**Updated 2 p.m., Monday, October 21**

The cause of a weekend house fire in Altona appears to be electrical in nature. That's the latest from Altona/Rhineland Fire Chief Greg Zimmerman, who says the fire commissioner began investigating the blaze that same day. 

Meantime, there is no official update regarding the basement tenant that was retrieved from the home by fire fighters and air lifted to hospital in Winnipeg via STARS.

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 **Updated 3:30 p.m., Saturday, October 19**

The cause of a Saturday morning house fire in Altona remains unknown as investigation continued into the afternoon.

According to Fire Chief Greg Zimmerman, when crews arrived on scene they found one resident of the home outside, however they quickly learned that a second resident, a basement tenant, remained in the home.

A search of the house yielded the second resident, and upon removal was given oxygen and transferred to an ambulance. Zimmerman notes the victim was then airlifted to Health Sciences Centre via STARS Air Ambulance. Their condition remains unknown.

Zimmerman adds the house was severely damaged in the blaze and doesn't expect there's much to save. While he says the outside looks to be in relatively okay condition, it's a different story on the inside. According to Zimmerman, the fire started in the basement of the home and quickly travelled to the first floor and then through to the second floor.

15 members of Altona/Rhineland Emergency Services attended the call with the addition of 11 members from the Plum Coulee Fire Department.

The second resident of the home was transported to HSC via STARS Air Ambulance. Submitted.

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Altona/Rhineland Emergency Services responded to a house fire on 2nd Avenue South East Saturday morning. Eyewitnesses say no flames could be seen coming from the house, but smoke was visible. Plum Coulee Fire Department was called in to assist.

There’s no further information available at this time. PembinaValleyOnline continues to follow this story.