People in the Temple neighbourhood in northeast Calgary are taking steps to help a family hit by a house fire.
A man was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition after a fire broke out in a house at 176 Templeby Drive N.E. at around 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
“Crews were met with a large volume of smoke and flames, and began an aggressive attack on the fire,” said Calgary Fire Department Battalion Chief Paul Frederick, adding that the fire extended from the main floor of the home to the attic.
After entering the home, firefighters found a man on the main floor. They took him out onto the front lawn to perform CPR.
Neighbours say the man was alone in the home, while his wife and three young children were away visiting relatives.
The Temple Community Association is now appealing for donations to help the family.
“When somebody in our community is suffering, we are all suffering,” board member Rachel Drinkle said. “I think that we can all empathize with somebody that loses a house to fire, and their loved one is in critical condition.”
The association is asking people to drop off cash and gift cards at the Temple Community Hall at 167 Templegreen Road N.E.
Karen Moisan, who lives four doors down from the fire, said she hopes people support the effort.
“I would really like to help out and I just feel sorry for them, especially when the husband was seriously injured,” she said.
Fire investigators were at the scene for several hours on Monday, but so far haven’t released any information on what might have caused the fire.