21 people displaced after multi-home fire in SE Calgary

Nearly two-dozen Calgarians are displaced from their homes after a fire in the southeast community of New Brighton Monday evening.

The Calgary Fire Department (CFD) says it responded to reports of a structure fire on New Brighton Park SE.

A second alarm was immediately called to make sure there was enough resources on scene.

When firefighters arrived they found significant smoke and flames coming from three two-story single family homes.

“It appears that the fire originated in the garage in the home in the middle and quickly spread to the homes as well as the neighbouring homes and garages,” explained CFD public information officer Alex Kwan. “There was heat damage to two homes on either side of the incident as well and across the back alley to the the condo units.”

Crews searched all the homes and fought the flames from both inside and outside the buildings.

Two water towers were also set up to help attack the blaze.

CFD says three homes suffered extensive damage due to flames, smoke, and water. Two adjacent homes were also moderately damaged.

Once the fire was extinguished, crews discovered a gas leak and requested that all residents evacuate the area.

Twenty-one residents self-evacuated before the fire department arrived. Two dogs were also accounted for and are in the care of the family.

One person was assessed by paramedics for possible smoke inhalation but wasn’t taken to the hospital.

The residents will be displaced from their homes for an unspecified period.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.