Fire driven by 'strong chinook wind' destroys northwest Calgary home

Fire driven by "a really strong chinook wind" destroyed a house in the northwest community of Edgemont on Sunday afternoon despite the best efforts of 18 units deployed to battle the blaze, a battalion chief says.

Fire crews were called to the two-storey home in the 7000 block ofEdgemontDrive, N.W. just after 3:30 p.m.

"The first arriving crews were met by a well-involved fire in the structure that was being driven by a really strong chinook wind," saidBattalion Chief Paul LeBlanc.

According to the Calgary Fire Department, 18 units were called the scene. It took about an hour for crews to get the fire under control.

LeBlanc said the adjoining home only suffered superficial exterior damage.

EMS said no one was injured in the fire.