Four people jumped off a balcony to escape a fire at a home in southeast Calgary Friday afternoon.
Fire crews were called at around noon to the home in the Southview neighbourhood.
The Calgary Fire Department said four people from the suite where the fire originated jumped out of the home from the balcony because the door was blocked by smoke and fire.
Firefighters said the fire started in the basement and spread to the main floor of the residence, causing significant damage. The other suites in the building were not damaged.
David Turple said he was driving by when he saw the fire.
“I seen smoke pouring out so I stopped. I come back in reverse and I ran out of my truck to see what I could do for them,” Turple said. “Black smoke coming out of the top suite… It covered this whole street, pure black. I couldn’t even see.”
He called 911 and as he was still on the phone, firefighters arrived on scene.
All four people who were in the house at the time were able to make it out, including Madison Williams. She was sleeping in the basement of the home when she woke up to a “weird smell.”
“When I opened my eyes there was a fire in the closet right in front of me, so I just ran upstairs to make sure everyone else was out.
“I called for one guy, he tried going downstairs and the smoke was already coming through the house,” Williams said.
Turple let Williams and another woman sit in his truck to stay warm. They escaped the house with just the clothes on their backs.
“All I had was a tank top on, a lady gave me her coat to wear. An older gentleman let us into his truck to warm up and someone else went to go grab us coffees.
“We’re so thankful because I don’t know what we would do without them.
“It’s freezing out there. Neither one of us has shoes on,” Williams said.
Turple said he was just doing what any human would do.
“They were grateful, very grateful, to help them out,” he said. “I just feel bad for them with this COVID-19 going on.”
Williams said fire crews told her they would have to remain out of the house for at least 24 hours. They’re not sure where they’ll go.
“She doesn’t have anywhere to go, I don’t have anywhere to go. I don’t think the other two have anywhere to go,” she said.
“I’m just scared, anxious. I never want to wake up to anything like that. I never would have imagined waking up to that.”
While she described waking up to a fire “terrifying,” she added she’s happy everyone is OK.
A Calgary Transit bus was brought to the scene to provide temporary shelter for six people and two dogs who escaped the building.
The CFD said all four residents from the suite where the fire occurred are receiving assistance from the Red Cross.
No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.