Two homes in northwest Calgary were destroyed and another was damaged in an early Saturday morning fire.
According to the Calgary Fire Department (CFD), the fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. in the Royal Oak neighbourhood.
By the time crews arrived at the home on Royal Oak View N.W., the initial structure was engulfed in flames and the fire had already spread to a neighbouring home.
“The flames were significant — you could see them over the houses,” neighbour Jackie Palmer said. “They were way up in the air… it just went so fast.”
Two more homes were also showing damage due to the heat from the fire as well as water used to put out the flames, officials said.
A third home was also showing damage due to the heat from the fire.
Crews used aerial ladder trucks to extinguish the flames.
According to a CFD release, three occupants from the burning home were able to self-evacuate safely. Single occupants from the neighbouring homes self-evacuated as well.
“They found flames through the roof on a couple of houses, so a primary search was out of the question but they did find out later that everybody was out,” CFD District Chief Dennis Raven said.
None of the three homes will be able to be immediately reoccupied.
Neighbours in the area said that those affected by the fire were taken in by people living in the cul-de-sac.
Throughout the day, people living in the area dropped off food and essentials to the affected families.
A fire investigator is working to determine the cause of the blaze.
“We’re all OK, though. That’s all that matters,” Palmer said.