Four residences severely damaged after 2-alarm fire in Evanston

Four residences in Evanstonare severely damagedand uninhabitable after a two-alarm house fire broke out Friday afternoon with strong winds worsening the situation.

Fire crews received calls for the signs and smell of smoke in the 200 block ofEvansglen Close N.W. at about 2:30 p.m. While en route, they called for more resources because of the large volume of smoke seen from the road.

At the scene, they found two duplexes engulfed in flames and worked quickly to extinguish the fire.

"Due to the high winds, we're very concerned with exposures," said on-duty Battalion Chief Alistair Robin with the Calgary Fire Department.

"So both searches of neighbouring homes and exposed homes were done and protection of exposed homes from the spread of fire."

There are no reports of injuries to residents or emergency crews.

Three other homes are damaged as a result of heat exposure, and eight residents have been displaced.

St.Josephine Bakhita School was also evacuated as a precaution as it borders the affected properties, but the school was not damaged.

Fire crews will remain on scene through the night to ensure there's no further spread.

WATCH | District Chief Mike May describes what it was like to battle strong winds at a two-alarm house fire:

District Chief Mike May describes scene at two-alarm fire in Evanston

2 years ago

Duration 0:53

Calgary Fire Department officials said very high winds increased the area of concern around a two-alarm fire in Evanston, and exposed homes were protected and evacuated for safety reasons.

"The wind certainly picked up right around the same time that the fire got going," Robin said.

"So it certainly did play quite a role in the spread of the fire and also potentially in the spread of the fire to homes on other blocks. So crews were very busy watching embers and making sure that exposures were being protected."

Calgary's fire investigator has been notified and dispatched to the scene to determine an origin and cause of the fire.

The Calgary Fire Department is asking citizens to send any photos or videos they may have of the fire to piofire@calgary.ca.