Editor’s note: This story previously stated five children were taken to hospital but on Thursday morning, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services confirmed four children were taken to hospital.
A fire broke out in a southeast Edmonton home Wednesday afternoon, sending a critically injured man and his four kids to hospital.
Multiple 911 calls were made about the house fire in the Daly Grove area of Mill Woods.
Firefighters were called to the home on 35 Street, near 18 Avenue, at 4:11 p.m. About 30 firefighters responded, with the first crew arriving within three minutes to a fully involved blaze.
District chief Howard Samycia said the fire started on the main floor of the single-family bungalow and quickly spread.
A neighbour told Global News he saw flames shooting from a bedroom window. He said other neighbours broke windows to get the children out of the home, and some of the kids suffering minor cuts during that rescue.
Samycia said their father had become trapped in the basement and had to be rescued by firefighters.
“It was reported to us by bystanders who did assist that he was very concentrated on getting his kids out,” Samycia, adding the father suffered burns to all of his extremities.
EMS transported the four children in stable condition with smoke inhalation to Stollery Children’s Hospital, and their father in critical condition to University of Alberta Hospital, according to Edmonton Fire Rescue Services. (Alberta Health Services had previously said there were five children, but on Thursday EFRS confirmed there were only four kids.)
The fire was brought under control by 5 p.m. and extinguished just before 8 p.m.
Fire damage was confined to the main floor with smoke damage throughout the entire home. The damage is estimated at $200,000 with $180,000 to the structure itself and $20,000 in contents.
Edmonton Fire Rescue reminds all homeowners to have smoke alarms installed in every sleeping area, on every level of the home, as well as in the basement.
They should also be tested at least once a month.
Residents are reminded to make sure everyone in their home knows the sound of a smoke alarm and what to do in the event of a fire, including having a home fire escape plan and practicing two ways out of every room.
The cause of this fire remains under investigation.
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