Calgary immigrant family loses all they own in house fire

Just months after immigrating from Nigeria, a family has lost all they own after a blaze engulfed their home on Martindale Drive N.E shortly before 11:30am Thursday morning. Within minutes, the fire reduced the garage to black timbres, and then began eating through the main home and both neighboring houses.

Florence Igbokwe was home at the time, but her husband was out, and her two young children were at school.

A pair of good Samaritans, Travis Pipus and Russell Cross, were driving by the families home at the time when they saw the smoke. They quickly jumped to action, getting the mother out of her home, and three other people from one house next door. Travis tells Global News, “We just banged on the door to get these people out, [then] ran in the house. [Russell] jumped in the basement window, and looked around the basement to make sure no one was in there”.

“I opened the basement door and flames shot at me. It was a little scary”, says Russell.

Florence is thankful the two boys were such quick thinkers. “I owe them a lot – I thank them for saving my life. If not for them, I don’t know what would happen because I was sleeping.”

Florence’s family only moved to Canada about three months ago. For now, Calgary Emergency Management will provide them with a place to say, and then help them get back on their feet.

As for Travis and Russell, they could be up for special recognition from the fire department.

Fire officials are focusing their investigation at the rear of the homes where the majority of the damage took place. Damage estimates have not yet been made. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.