2 people killed in southwest Calgary house fire

Investigators are working to determine the cause of a house fire in the community of Glenbrook on Wednesday that killed two people.

Firefighters rushed to a home in the 2800 block of 41 Street S.W. just after midnight after receiving multiple 911 calls.

The Calgary Fire Department says a neighbour entered the home, pulling one person out to the front lawn and performing CPR.

Two others were able to get out of the home on their own.

Crews arrived to find heavy smoke pouring from a basement window.

Firefighters began dousing the flames and searching for other occupants.

Crews found another victim in the basement of the home who they pulled outside for EMS to care for.

The fire department says two people from the home, both men, succumbed to their injuries.

"It is just incredible that someone put themselves in danger to help someone else," said Calgary Fire Department spokesperson Carol Henke.

"House fire smoke is so incredibly toxic that just a couple of breaths render you incapable of self-rescuing, so it really is incredible what these folks did.

"They really gave this person this best chance of survival."

Henke said it was too early to identify what caused the fire.

"Realistically, the most common causes for fire starts are cooking left unattended, or smoking candles. (It was) in the basement and it appears to have started in the living room area but again, (it's) early on in the investigation and I don't want to confirm 100 per cent."

Henke said the deaths mark Calgary's sixth and seventh fire fatalities of 2023.

She said investigators aren't sure if there were working smoke alarms in the basement suite.

Friends and acquaintances identified the men as Shawn Jackson, who they said was in his mid-50s, and Gerry Samson, believed to be in his early 60s.

"I've known Gerry for probably about 30 years," said Penny. "He used to drink at a bar that I owned down the street called Mad Dogs, and he's been frequenting here as long as I've been around.

"(They were) great guys," she added. "(It's) super sad. I'm actually pretty much in shock.

"They were amazing guys," she said. "Gerry wasn't well for the last little while, but Shawn was a painter and was in here quite a bit and never said a bad thing about anybody, always a super smile on his face."

Another local resident, Bill, said, "They're both very good tradesmen and they're very well-liked -- their friends are very steeped in grief right now."

Ward 6 Coun. Richard Pootmans said the whole situation is horribly sad.

"Our thoughts are with the families," he said.

Pootmans also took a moment to recognize the "amazing human spirit" of the neighbour who jumped into action and pulled one person from the home.

"We have to recognize that heroism," he said.

Anyone with photos or videos of the fire prior to the arrival of the fire department is asked to send them to [e-mail].