Calgary Fire Crews respond to multiple working fires

Earlier this afternoon, Calgary Fire crews responded to two different working fires occurring around the same time. At around 2:20pm Fire crews responded to 0-100 block of Varsity Estate View NW for an alarm at a multi-story residential apartment building. On arrival, residents were evacuating and on investigation, fire crews found heavy smoke at one end of the building on the 2nd floor. Crews entered a 2nd floor unit and found a fire had started in the kitchen. Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire using a dry chemical extinguisher and found 1 elderly occupant still inside the unit. Firefighters immediately helped get the occupant to safety and transferred patient care to an AHS ambulance unit on scene. The fire was isolated to the unit, but the unit was damaged, and the occupant will be displaced. Neighbouring units were also temporarily evacuated however crews confirmed there was no smoke or damage and they have all since re-occupied their units.

At around 2:30pm, Fire crews responded to the 0-100 block of Wrexford CR SW for a building fire. On arrival fire crews were met by an occupant that had safely escaped with their pets. Fire crew entered the home and encountered a high volume of smoke on the second floor. Fire crews conducted a coordinated fire attack with ventilation to knock down the fire and remove smoke simultaneously. The fire was isolated to a second-floor bathroom and there were no injuries. A fire investigator remains on scene to determine the cause of the fire.

The Calgary Fire Department reminds all Calgarians of the importance of:

• Being aware of any heat sources around the home and ensure to keep anything that can burn at least 1 meter away
• Have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level of the home and outside all sleeping areas.
• Testing alarms monthly and replacing batteries at least once a year. Replace alarms when they get near their expiry date.
• Making and practicing a home escape plan with everyone in your household.
• Not delaying evacuation to look for pets, if pets follow or can be carried or guided out while evacuating then evacuate with them otherwise, get out and notify firefighters of any pets that may still be inside.

For more fire prevention tips and resources, visit calgary.ca/fire