Two die following Edmonton high-rise blaze
Posted Jun 17, 2013 11:18 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A man and a five-year-old child have died following a high-rise apartment fire in Edmonton Sunday morning.
It broke out around 11am on the eighth floor of the Oak Tower apartment building in the community of Oliver.
Edmonton Police confirm to 660News the pair were among the seven rushed to the University of Alberta hospital after the blaze broke out Sunday morning.
“Anytime there is a high-rise fire, it definitely presents a challenge for firefighters, there are different complications at play,” says Public Information Officer Michael Tucker. “Especially when you think of rescues, we really had to rely on that ladder truck.”
Tucker says there were about 50 firefighters on scene facilitating the rescue and they had to use the ladder truck to reach the suite.
Fire officials describe the damage to two floors of the building as extensive.
“It was under control around 12 and it was declared out around 12:15,” he explains.
More than 100 people were evacuated at the time.
At this point, it’s still unclear as to what could have caused the blaze.
The Canadian Red Cross has been called in to help affected residents.
