Two early morning fires, approximately two blocks apart, brought a large Calgary Fire Department presence to the southwest community of Braeside.
At approximately 4:30 a.m., fire crews responded to reports of a house fire in the 700 block of Brookpark Dr. S.W.
“Our crews arrived to find a fire that appeared to be on the exterior of a house,” said CFD Batt. Chief Ernie Molineaux. “They managed to get a quick knock down of that fire.”
Fire crews entered the home and discovered the fire had climbed the soffits of the structure and into the attic. Firefighters removed a section of the ceiling to combat and extinguish the attic fire.
The lone occupant of the home was not injured in the blaze.
Smoke detectors in the home were not activated as the smoke was confined to an area overhead. Officials with the Calgary Fire Department say the house fire is a reminder that a smoke detector situated in an attic can save lives.
Nearly thirty minutes after the Brookpark Dr. call, a second, unrelated fire ignited on the patio of a nearby apartment building suite situated at 10120 Brookpark Blvd. S.W.
“This one started in the exterior of the home, in a condominium project,” said Molineaux. “Somebody saw fire burning on the ground level exterior deck of their condominium unit. They opened up the door and the smoke got into the building setting off the alarms.”
When crews arrived at the building, the location of the fire was not obvious. Firefighters encountered smoke within the building and, after the source of the fire was located, a hose line was dragged to the ground level suite and the fire was extinguished.
The efforts of fire crews limited the fire’s damage to the exterior of the building. CFD members remained on scene to ventilate the smoke from the building and to monitor carbon monoxide levels.
Fire officials do not believe the two fires are connected.
"We have nothing indicating that, but it will be part of the investigation.”
