Calgary firefighters are on the scene of a two-alarm fire in the southeast neighbourhood of Midnapore and Calgary police have closed off roads in the area, warning drivers to find alternate routes.
The Calgary Fire Department received multiple reports at around 12:30 p.m. Thursday, of smoke and flames visible from a balcony in a low-rise condo building.
Because of the size of the building and the volume of smoke, the incident was upgraded to a second alarm.
“We’re looking at at least 48 suites, according to our math,” CFD public information officer Carol Henke said Thursday afternoon. “Some people due to the smoke and flames couldn’t get out their regular exit and so did need to get rescued from their balconies. Three people, at least from three different balconies, were rescued and the rest evacuated through the stairwells and the appropriate exits.”
Twenty-four residents and a number of pets were evacuated and found shelter from the cold in a Calgary Transit bus called to the scene.
The Global News helicopter counted 12 fire trucks on the scene at 15320 Bannister Road S.E. on Thursday afternoon.
An AHS EMS spokesperson confirmed one man with non-life-threatening injuries was assessed by emergency responders on the scene and taken to hospital.
Another person was injured, but Henke was unable to comment on the nature of the injuries.
Just after 3 p.m., the Calgary Police Service put a number of road closures in place: Bannister Road between 151 Avenue S.E. and Midlake Boulevard S.E., 153 Avenue between Bannister Road S.E. and First Street S.E., and Shaw Road between 151 Avenue S.E. and 153 Avenue S.E.
“Roads are anticipated to be closed for the next five hours, please avoid the area until further notice,” CPS tweeted.
Henke anticipates CFD crews will remain on the scene “doing salvage and overhaul, containing the fire,” investigating the cause and keeping watch for hot spots. She said it was too early to have an estimate on damage.
“We have investigators on scene and so they will be looking at the exact origin and cause of this fire,” Henke said.
Anyone with information, photos or video of the building prior to the CFD arriving on the scene is asked to send them to piofire@calgary.ca.
More to come…