Airdrie RCMP and the Airdrie Fire Department fought to contain a house fire on Tuesday afternoon.
RCMP said first responders were dispatched to the fire in Airdrie’s Hillcrest neighbourhood at around 4 p.m.
Multiple 911 calls were received for the fire, which RCMP said gave off heavy smoke that could be seen from a great distance. When crews arrived on scene, they said a heavy volume of fire coated both sides of the house.
The occupants of the house — three kids, their mother and two dogs — were not home at the time of the blaze. However, some homes in the surrounding area were evacuated as a safety precaution. No injuries were reported.
Police and firefighters asked motorists to avoid the area while crews tried to contain the blaze.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is set to begin on Wednesday morning.