Editor’s note: A previous version of this story stated nine people were out of their homes based on information from the Calgary Fire Department. In an update, fire officials later said that seven people got out of their homes, and five were displaced from their homes.
Five people are out of their homes after a unit in a fourplex caught fire in southeast Calgary on Friday afternoon.
Firefighters were called to the home in Forest Lawn just before 3 p.m. in response to reports of black smoke coming from the windows.
Fire crews arrived to find a working fire at the home, which is believed to have started in the kitchen.
Seven people safely got out before emergency crews arrived — four from the unit where the fire started — as well as three cats and a dog. No injuries were reported.
Another unit below the home where the fire started also sustained smoke damage. The two other suites weren’t damaged.
The home where the blaze started was significantly damaged, with fire damage in the kitchen and smoke damage throughout.
Investigators have determined the fire was likely caused by unattended cooking oil, the fire department said.
“When oil reaches its ignition temperature, it bursts into flames and will quickly spread to anything nearby,” the CFD said.
It’s not known if the suite where the fire started had a working fire alarm, but fire crews ensured three fire alarms in other suites were working and installed two in suites without them.
Four adults, as well as two cats, from the unit where the fire started are receiving assistance from the Red Cross. One other person from the downstairs unit was temporarily displaced.
The people from the other unaffected units were allowed back in their homes.
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