Calgary firefighters issue safety reminders after responding to 5 fires in 24 hours

It was a busy 24 hours for Calgary firefighters this week as they responded to five fires in homes across the city over the course of that time Thursday and Friday.

The causes of those fires are still under investigation. 

Firefighters say the first call came around 8:30 Thursday morning, for a home under renovation on fire in the northeast community of Pineridge. The home was unoccupied at the time.

The fire was burning in the single-story home's attic and ceiling area, according to a news release from the Calgary Fire Department. Crews were able to quickly knock down the fire.

The second fire happened Thursday night in a home in Silver Springs in the northwest. Calgary Fire says the fire started on the back deck, but firefighters were able to extinguish it before it spread to the home.

Crews helped one senior out of the house, while other occupants were able to get out on their own. No one was hurt.

Next there was a basement fire around midnight at a home in the northeast neighbourhood of Martindale. A resident was able to get out of the home and get a neighbour to call 911.

The fire was contained and extinguished, and paramedics assessed two occupants of the home.

Just before 9 a.m. Friday, and after the morning crew came on shift, a resident in the southwest community of Westgate noticed smoke coming from the house next door, and called 911. The fire was in a walk-in closet, and crews were able to contain it and put it out. 

The fifth fire happened Friday afternoon around 2:45 p.m. in a single-story home in Bowness, where no one was home at the time.

Firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the back of the roof. Crews in the backyard were able to cool the flames, while firefighters inside helped to knock down the fire. After that though, flames began spreading into the ceiling and crews had to break through several layers of the ceiling to fully extinguish the fire.

The Calgary Fire Department issued these reminders to Calgarians:

• Keep anything that can burn at least a metre away from any heat sources
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, replacing batteries and alarms as needed
• Practice a home escape plan at least twice a year
• Detour around fire incidents to ensure crews are able to work