Dozens of people flee a fire at a high-rise building in downtown Calgary – Calgary

Dozens of people were forced to flee to safety after a fire broke out at a high-rise building in downtown Calgary on Friday afternoon.

The Calgary fire department said they received a call around 4:20 p.m. to a building in the 1000 block of 13 Avenue SW.

Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising from the tops of tall buildings in downtown Calgary, prompting the first firefighters to arrive on the scene to call for more help.

There were 72 units in the building and while many managed to evacuate their rooms, Calgary Fire Department Information Officer Alex Kwan said others chose to shelter in place.

“If the fire isn’t in someone’s unit, they can take shelter safely especially if they’re using a mobility aid, a wheelchair or a walker or something like that where you can’t get down the stairs safely,” Kwan said.

“Then, it’s better for you to stay in your room, leave the door closed, use something like a blanket or jacket to prevent smoke from coming in from under the door.”

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Kwan said firefighters were able to quickly narrow down the location of the fire to the top floor of the building, but were unsure whether the fire started on the roof or in one of the penthouse suites.

A CFD “overhaul team” also had to be called in to drill holes in the ceiling to determine if the fire had spread further.

Several roads in the area were closed and people were asked to avoid the area, causing serious traffic jams during the evening rush hour.

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