6 people transported to hospital after late night fire, explosion damages 4 northeast townhouses

Explosion at Calgary townhouse complex Six people were taken to hospital after an explosion and fire at a northeast Calgary housing complex. Mason DePatie reports.

An investigation is underway into a fire and explosion that took place Saturday night in northeast Calgary.

At around 11 p.m., fire crews responded to the 0-100 block of Las Americas Villas N.E., where they discovered flames and smoke coming from three different two-storey townhomes.

Residents reported an explosion near the scene. Debris was scattered on property around the incident.

A fourth townhome was extensively damaged by the fire, along with the original three, which were destroyed. All four are presently uninhabitable and the residents have been displaced.

AHS transported six people to hospital, one in life-threatening condition, one in serious condition and four in stable condition. A cat was also rescued by firefighters.

A fire investigator is on scene alongside fire crews and Calgary police trying to determine the cause of the fire.

"This is a significant fire and due to the force of the explosion, I think we're fortunate that there wasn't more damage in that fire crews were successful in preventing the fire from spreading to other neighbouring buildings. Sadly, there were injuries and our thoughts go out to those that were injured in this incident," said Carol Henke of the Calgary Fire Department.

'It was terrifying'

Resident Lila Boyden said the incident left her badly rattled.

"My husband called because he heard an explosion or a loud bang," Boyden said, "and then the house shook.

"So then he ran out to see and could see the flames above the units, about probably eight feet above the units.

"It’s awful," she added. "It was terrifying last night seeing the chaos."

For another neighbour, Sukhijwan Dhaliwal, his relief that his own home wasn't on fire was replaced by the shock of seeing what was happening nearby.

"We were sitting in the house, and we heard like a loud blast, like shake the house," Dhaliwal said. "And then (when) we checked (for trouble) downstairs in the basement, everything was okay.

"Then I checked the back of the house," he added. "It was okay, right then --we didn't see the fire or anything. But after like 10,15, minutes, when the fire department and all other emergency equipment came here, we saw the lights.

“We came out," he said. "Then we saw these houses were burning."

Boyden said the shock of the fire was followed by the equally shocking sight of seeing the injured residents minutes later.

“Actually seeing the people put on stretchers," she said. "There was people bleeding, and there was glass that was probably 100 feet from the units. It was scary.

"I'm happy that everyone got out okay," she added, "but this is devastating for all the families that were involved."

With files from CTV's Tyler Barrow