Woman dead, two firefighters hurt in SE Calgary townhouse fire

A woman is dead and two firefighters are hurt after an early morning house fire in southeast Calgary.

Shortly before 3 a.m., crews responded to a townhouse in the neighbourhood of Legacy, where they found a unit engulfed in flames.

“Eventually we called a second alarm for additional units for help with evacuation and a fire that had spread to a neighbouring unit,” said Battalion Chief Innes Fraser.

The fire was brought under control and one person from the unit was unaccounted for. Police confirmed that a woman was eventually found inside the home and pronounced dead at the scene.

At least nine homes were evacuated, a few of which suffered serious damage.

Firefighters fell through floor during search of home

Two fire fighters searching the burning townhome fell through the floor and were able to rely on their training to get out safely as fellow crews continued the search for the person believed to be inside.

Deputy Chief Deb Bergeson tells CityNews there were numerous units in the complex, but crews were able to quickly pinpoint the fire’s origin and attack it from the front and back.

A veteran captain was inside with another firefighter — he had pulled a hose to the third level of the home when they noticed the floor become spongy. The pair tried to retreat to safety but they didn’t have enough time.

“One firefighter fell through the floor up to his waist and was able to prevent himself from falling any further,” Bergeson said. “He grabbed the second firefighter and held him in the air for quite some time.”

“They decided they would release that firefighter because his breathing apparatus became compromised. He fell one floor.”

Fellow firefighters continued the search by breaking in through a neighbouring unit, but when they found the individual they were searching for it was too late for lifesaving efforts.

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire.