Apartment Fire in Forest Lawn
At approximately 8:00 this evening, the Calgary Fire Department responded to 911 calls for a fire in the 4200 block of 17th avenue in the southeast community of Forest Lawn. On arrival, crews were met with smoke and flames issuing from windows on the second floor of a residential over commercial occupancy facing 17th avenue. Firefighters immediately deployed hose streams from the street to quickly stop the spread of the fire.
Once inside, crews proceeded to the upper floors and were able to rescue one occupant who had minor smoke inhalation. The remaining apartments on the second floor of the building were evacuated along with businesses and restaurants on the ground floor. Crews were able to extinguish the fire in the apartment of origin, and are working to remove smoke from the rest of the building. Damage from the fire is extensive in the originating unit and limited to smoke and water damage in other units.
Crews utilized aerial ladders to vent upper areas of the building and firefighters will remain on scene for several hours extinguishing hot spots. Approximately 15 people were evacuated from the building and Calgary Transit is on scene with busses for shelter. Calgary Police has temporarily closed westbound traffic on 17th avenue and drivers should choose another route. The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time.
The Calgary Fire Department would like to remind all Calgarians that working smoke alarms save lives.
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