Edgemont Home Destroyed by Fire

Shortly before 3:00 in the afternoon of Wednesday, May 4, several calls came into 9-1-1 reporting a house fire on Edendale Way N.W. When fire crews arrived, heavy smoke and flames were visible from the home. The lone resident who was home at the time the fire started, was outside waiting for crews and confirmed nobody else was inside. Fire crews did not hear any activated smoke alarms when they entered the structure so it is unknown if the home had working smoke alarms. Fire crews used multiple hose lines as well as a ladder truck to fight the fire.

The resident was taken to hospital by a family member as a precaution to get assessed for smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported. Damage to the home is significant and the structure is compromised which means it is no longer safe for firefighters to enter. A track hoe will be brought to the scene to carefully deconstruct the building. This is to allow firefighters to continue to put out hotspots in hidden void areas. One neighbouring house sustained fire and heat damage to the side closest to the source house.

ATCO and Enmax were called to the scene to disconnect gas and electricity to the property. CPS officers were present to redirect traffic in the area and EMS paramedics were on stand by for any potential injuries. A fire investigator is on scene to determine the origin and cause of this fire. Is is not being considered suspicious at this time.

Working smoke alarms save lives by alerting occupants to harmful smoke and can reduce your risk of dying in a home fire. The toxic effects of inhaled smoke can overwhelm occupants before they can escape or even wake up from sleep. When properly installed, tested and maintained, smoke alarms are the best early warning system in the event of a home fire.

Test smoke alarms once a month by pressing the test button and replacing the batteries as required.

Replace smoke alarms after ten years. If you discover a smoke alarm is defective or broken after testing, replace it immediately.
Install at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home, including the basement, and ensure there is a smoke alarm inside every bedroom or outside every sleeping area.
Sleep with bedroom doors closed. Test smoke alarms to ensure you and your family will be able to hear and wake up at the sound of the alarm and if not, install smoke alarms inside bedrooms to ensure residents will hear when sleeping.
When purchasing a smoke alarm, look for a product that has been manufactured and tested to an acceptable standard, as indicated by a marking for the Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC).
In a typical home fire, you may have as little as two minutes to escape from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Knowing how to use those minutes can make a lifesaving difference.
A home escape plan contains the layout of your home, the escape routes that should be used, and where to meet once you are outside. It is important to create and practice an escape plan with everyone who lives in your home so that they know what to do if there is a fire.

For more information on fire safety and fire prevention, visit calgary.ca/fire

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