An early morning fire in a northwest neighbourhood left one home damaged but Calgary Fire Department officials say working smoke detectors prevented the blaze from potentially ending in tragedy.
Shortly after 1:00 a.m., emergency crews were called to a home in the 3900 block of Vardell Road Northwest.
“There were residents in the house at the time of the fire,” said CFD West District Chief Dennis Graham. “The one lady woke up with the smoke detectors going off and they were able to get out of the house safely.”
Firefighters from the nearby Fire Station 17 arrived within minutes and encountered flames emanating from the upper floor of the two storey home.
Crews quickly extinguished the blaze and remained on scene throughout the morning to monitor hot spots.
No injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
According to the City of Calgary, working smoke alarms greatly reduce the risk of a house fire turning fatal.
“Smoke detectors are so important,” said Graham. “They save lives. Everyone needs to make sure that they have one and that they’re working.”
The City of Calgary recommends testing smoke alarms on a monthly basis and replacing a detector’s batteries once a year.
For more information on smoke alarms, visit City of Calgary home safety tips.
