'Potentially deadly incident': Paving stones plummet from Calgary high-rise during wild wind
Calgary fire officials say no one was injured but several cars were damaged as a result of one downtown condo resident's not-so-bright idea.
Officials say they were called to respond to a scene in the 100 block of 13th Avenue S.W. at about 9:10 a.m. on Wednesday where several pieces of rock had landed on the street as well as on several vehicles.
An investigation by the Calgary Fire Department and Calgary Police Service soon found that a resident, living on the 27th floor of the nearby building, had used paving stones to weigh down a cover on his outdoor hot tub.
They say the man had intentionally done so to prevent the cover from flying off in the extremely high winds that occurred Wednesday morning.
However, the cover ended up flying off the hot tub anyway, "catapulting the paving stones" off the building.
"Thankfully, there were no injuries reported from this morning's potentially deadly incident," CFD said in a release.
It's not known how much damage was caused in the incident and there is no information on any charges laid.
WIND SIGNIFICANT AROUND HIGH-RISES
High wind speeds were recorded throughout Calgary and surrounding areas Wednesday morning, but officials say those conditions were particularly extreme in the downtown core.
"Winds and wind gusts can be especially significant in and around high rise buildings. To reduce your risk, keep your family and pets indoors if you can," CFD said.
All objects on balconies and yards should be properly secured to ensure they do not pose a danger to others in extremely windy conditions.
Storms like these also have the potential to bring down power lines, officials say, so if any resident happens to encounter one of these situations, they should stay clear and call 911 immediately.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.