Home in Chestermere destroyed by fire

Smoke is hanging heavy in the air in Chestermere at the scene of a house fire. The home caught fire at about 6 a.m.

A Wednesday morning fire in the town of Chestermere has left two families without a place to stay.

Fire crews from Chestermere, Rocky View, and Calgary responded to the scene at approximately 6:00 a.m. and discover the structure fully engulfed in flames.

Two families were living in the home, a family of four was renting the upstairs and a couple were tenants in the basement.

Residents of the home say it may have started on the exterior of the building, but they aren't sure what happened.

Luka Desautels, who lives in the basement apartment, says he woke up and felt a lot of heat on his face. "I heard the window crack and that's when I turned and saw the flames coming up the window. I woke up the whole family and told everybody to get out of the house."

Desautels says that neighbours offered shelter to the displaced families . "The neighbours are really good to us. They welcomed us into their home, gave us coffee, breakfast, a place to sleep off a little."

Desautels thinks that most of his unit was untouched by flames and may only be water damaged.

Meanwhile, Katrina Smith, who lives in the upstairs apartment, lost a lot more, but she says she is lucky that everyone is safe. "My kids are okay and family okay. That's all that matters."

At least one neighbouring home was damaged in the blaze but no one was injured in the fire.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.