An elderly woman is dead and a man and a firefighter were taken to hospital after a fire at a townhouse in the southeast community of Lynnwood on Thursday.
The Calgary Fire Department said crews were called to a home on Lynnview Road S.E. just after 5 p.m.
According to a release, an elderly man was sleeping upstairs when he heard the smoke alarm in the home go off. After going downstairs he found a fire growing in the kitchen and when he couldn’t put it out, he went outside.
Firefighters said the man realized his mother was still in the home, but when he tried to go back inside to help her, he was unable to because of thick smoke. He cried out for help, at which point neighbours called 911.
When fire crews arrived at the home they were able to bring the elderly woman outside. She had fatal injuries. The man was taken to hospital by EMS to be treated for smoke inhalation, firefighters said.
While battling the fire, the Calgary Fire Department said one firefighter suffered a laceration and needed to be taken to hospital by EMS.
The fire department added crews worked quickly to contain the fire, but the townhouse was significantly damaged and adjoining townhouses were slightly damaged by smoke. As of about 8 p.m. Thursday, crews remained at the home putting out hotspots.
It’s unclear how the fire started, but fire investigators and arson detectives with Calgary police are looking into it.