Elderly woman dead, man to hospital after fire at SE Calgary townhouse

An elderly woman is dead after a fire broke out at a townhouse complex in southeast Calgary on Thursday.

Emergency crews were called to the area of 62 Avenue SE and Lynnview Road around 5 p.m. for reports of a fire at a townhome.

The Calgary Fire Department (CFD) says an elderly son and his mother were sleeping upstairs when the son woke up to a smoke alarm. He went downstairs and found a fire in the kitchen.

The man tried to put out the fire but it continued growing and he had to evacuate the house. Once he was outside he realized his elderly mother was still inside, according to the fire department.

Fire officials say he tried to go back inside but the smoke was too thick. Some neighbours called 911 after hearing him cry for help.

Firefighters arrived to “thick heavy smoke and flames” coming from the home and were able to get inside and look for the woman.

Crews found her and pulled her outside but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Images from the scene show firefighters climbing through a second floor window of the home.

The son was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.

A firefighter was cut during the response and also had to be taken to hospital by paramedics.

“Fire crews worked quickly to contain the fire and keep it from spreading to neighbouring units,” reads a release from CFD. “The source unit sustained significant fire damage and neighbouring units had some slight smoke damage.”

The fire department says the fire is now under control. Crews are still on scene putting out hot spots.

The neighbouring townhomes were evacuated but officials say residents should be allowed back inside shortly, once it is deemed safe.

The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

This is a developing story. Listen to 660 NewsRadio for the latest updates.