Three people are dead after an early morning fire in a commercial area in northwest Calgary.
Firefighters were called to a Lowe’s Home Improvement Store on Crowfoot Way in Crowfoot Crossing around 3:50 a.m. for a shed on fire.
“Part of the 911 call was also reporting that there was a person on fire, so it started out very, very tragically,” CFD public information officer Carol Henke said.
Crews quickly knocked down the flames but as they completed their search, they found the bodies of three people, two inside the shed and one outside.
Police were also called to the scene and investigators from both the Calgary Police Service’s arson unit and the Calgary Fire Department are looking into the cause of the fire.
Henke told Global News that it appears the victims had been using the shed to shelter themselves from the cold.
“Very, very tragic for everyone: for our fire crews, for the community,” she said. “These types of fatalities are always the worst case scenario.”
The area councillor said businesses in Crowfoot Crossing have seen increased numbers of unhoused individuals in the area and have taken steps like securing recyclables or hiring private security.
“We are trying to tackle this as best we can,” Ward 2 Coun. Jennifer Wyness said. “I’ve been advocating for this for the last two years, as well as other councilors like (Ward 1 Coun.) Sonia Sharp, who shares Crowfoot (LRT) station with me, as well as Tuscany and others, that we’re just not seeing the resources follow the issues of our city.
“It just showcases the concern the community has for making sure that people are housed in the wintertime and in the summer – all year long – have the support they need, while they can also feel safe in their community.”
Investigators began canvassing neighbouring businesses for information from potential witnesses or surveillance footage of the events leading up to the fire.
Anyone with photos, videos or information prior to CFD’s arrival is asked to email piofire@calgary.ca.