Calgary Fire Responds to Two Afternoon Fires

At around 1:45pm, fire crews responded to the 3000 block of Dover Ridge Drive SE for a structure fire. Crews arrived at a single-story residential home with light smoke showing. Firefighters stretched a hose line and located a fire in the basement. The crew quickly identified the fire as being lithium-ion batteries and used a large dry chemical extinguisher to knock down the fire. A fire investigator attended the scene and confirmed the fire originated in the basement where renovation work was in progress and was caused by lithium-ion batteries that were left charging. There were no injuries reported. A youth was home at the time of the incident and quickly evacuated when alerted by the working smoke alarms and went to a neighbours home to call 9-1-1. Due to the toxic smoke from the lithium-ion battery, the occupants will be temporarily displaced and staying with family members

At around 3:30pm, fire crews responded to the 1700 block of 26 Avenue SW for a structure fire. Crews arrived at a low-rise residential complex with smoke showing and called a working fire. Firefighters saw smoke throughout the top floor and assisted residents with exiting the building, along with their pets, while continuing to search for the fire. Two ladder trucks were set up to access the roof, and additional fire engines were called to attend the scene. Fire was located in the walls and ceiling of the top floor of the building and was extending through void spaces. Firefighters checked for extension of fire from both the roof top and interior ceiling and confirmed the fire is extinguished. A total of five people, from two different units, will be displaced as their units have extensive damage. No injuries were reported and all pets are accounted for.

A fire investigator is on scene and has started the investigation into the origin and cause of the fire.

Calgary Police Services, Emergency Health Services Alberta, ATCO and Enmax all attended the scene.

The Calgary Fire Department would like to remind all Calgarians that:

• Working smoke alarms save lives
  • Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home, including the basement.
  • Test all smoke alarms, including 10-year lithium-ion battery powered alarms, at least once a month by pushing the test button and replace batteries at least once per year.
  • Replace smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or don’t respond when tested.
• Practice safe charging
  • Once a battery has charged to 100%, unplug the device. Don’t overcharge the Lithium Battery.
  • Don’t charge a device under your pillow, on your bed or on a couch. Place the device on a hard surface to allow airflow around the device.
  • Don’t charge your batteries overnight. 
     

Please visit www.calgary.ca/fire for more fire safety and prevention information.

Courtesy: The City of Calgary Newsroom