Seven killed in Chestermere house fire
Posted Jul 2, 2021 2:11 pm.
Last Updated Jul 2, 2021 7:02 pm.
CHESTERMERE — Seven people have died following a house fire in Chestermere.
Fire crews were called to the home along Oakmere Close around 2:30 a.m. on Friday.
Of the deceased, four are said to have been children.
BREAKING: 7 people are dead in a house fire in Chestermere. 4 children are among the victims. Fire started around 2:30 this morning on Oakmere Close @660NEWS @citynewscalgary
— Jared Launchbury (@JaredLaunch) July 2, 2021
The family of the deceased say a family of three children, and one woman were the victims of the fire — including a child and two adults who were visitors from Calgary.
Surviving members of one of the families say they were all asleep when they suddenly heard a loud bang and awoke to a fire within the home.
Nearby neighbour shared this video with me @660NEWS /@citynewscalgary. He tells me his security camera footage shows lightening about 10 mins before he heard loud bangs and then came out to his back deck to find a huge blaze. After calling 911, he shot this video. pic.twitter.com/04dukKiAAx
— Jessika Guse (@JessikaGuse) July 2, 2021
Of the deceased were a man and woman, both of which were around 38 years old, a 35-year-old woman, a boy and girl who were both 12 years old, an eight-year-old girl, and a four-year-old boy.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but the preliminary investigation does not suggest the fire to be criminal in nature.
“Words cannot effectively express the devastation on our community. Our minds cannot fully comprehend the overwhelming loss. And our hearts ache for this family, this neighbourhood, and the community at large,” said Chestermere Mayor Marshall Chalmers in a release.
“While many will feel helpless in the face of such heartbreak, all we can do is to join together to grieve, to listen, and to support those impacted.
And I know that the community of Chestermere will do so with the greatest outpouring of love possible.
We thank those across the province for their thoughts and prayers for our community during this very difficult time.
My sincere gratitude goes out to our emergency first responders for their dedication and efforts.”
