Calgary fire crews battle blaze in SE Deer Run home

Two residents and a couple of pets evacuated a southeast Deer Run home caught in flames Friday morning, Calgary fire crews say.

The Calgary Fire Department (CFD) says it was dispatched to a single-family home on Deer Park Place for reports of a fire just before 11 a.m.

Flames and smoke were seen coming from the roof and chimney of the home.

Firefighters say they doused the flames and hot spots in the attic and around the chimney, noting there is damage to the bedroom closest to the fire’s orgin, along with the chimney, attic, and roof area.

They also say the residents had already escaped when fire crews arrived. They went in to rescue a hamster, but another pet, a cat, is “hiding and being searched for.”

Investigators are working to discover the cause and origin, but say it is not considered suspicious.

No injuries have been reported.

Meanwhile, firefighters say working smoke alarms “save lives by alerting occupants to harmful smoke and can reduce your risk of dying in a home fire.”

“The toxic effects of inhaled smoke can overwhelm occupants before they can escape or even wake up from sleep. When properly installed, tested and maintained, smoke alarms are the best early warning system in the event of a home fire,” the CFD said.

“In a typical home fire, you may have as little as two minutes to escape from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Knowing how to use those minutes can make a lifesaving difference.”

The CFD says Calgarians should have a home escape plan with a layout of the home, escape routes that can be used, and a meeting place outside.

It also says residents should have a home escape ladder if the escape routes involve exiting the second or third floor windows.

More information on fire safety can be found online.