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16 residents forced from southeast Calgary apartment building during fire

Click to play video: 'New Year’s Day fire guts apartment in southeast Calgary'
New Year’s Day fire guts apartment in southeast Calgary
More than a dozen people were forced out of their homes following a fire in Forest Lawn. As Tracy Nagai reports, the cause of the fire remains under investigation. – Jan 2, 2020

Over a dozen people were forced from their homes on Wednesday night after a fire at an apartment building near Marlborough Mall.

Flames and thick smoke were visible from the three-storey building in the 3800 block of Fonda Way Southeast when firefighters arrived at 11 p.m.

READ MORE: More than 800 people forced to evacuate Calgary Drop-In Centre due to fire scare

Crews extinguished flames on the outside of the building before heading inside to douse the fire.

According to the Calgary Fire Department, the blaze spread to the roof of the apartment building before being put out.

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In total, 16 residents kept warm inside a Calgary Transit bus while crews battled the fire.

Officials from both ATCO and Enmax attended to shut down power and gas to the building and police officers were called in to help divert traffic in the area.

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“I looked out my window and the entire roof was on fire,” neighbour Kei Bolanos said. “I was actually really scared. I live alone here so I was freaking out that I didn’t know what to do.”

READ MORE: Calgary family grieves deaths of 4 dogs in house fire, thanks community for support

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

As of noon on Thursday, the CFD said all the residents had been allowed back in their homes with the exception of those living in the unit where the fire originated.

No injuries were reported.

CFD spokesperson Carol Henke said some neighbouring suites suffered minor smoke damage.

– With files from Tracy Nagai

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