Seniors displaced after fire breaks out at northeast Calgary apartment building

Two floors of a seniors apartment building will not be reoccupied for an indefinite period of time, according to Calgary's fire information officer, after a blaze broke out at the northeast complex Thursday.

Around 2:45 p.m. Thursday, a call came into EMS for reports of a fire at 16th Avenue and Sixth Street N.E. That location is home to Silvera for Seniors Mountview Apartments.

EMS public education officer Adam Loria said four people were taken to hospital in stable, non-life threatening condition.

In a statement, the Calgary Fire Department said about30 residents have been provided alternative accommodations and will be taken there by Calgary Transit.

Carol Henke, information officer for the fire department, said the third floorsuite where the fire broke out has significant damage, and there is smoke damage to the rest of thatfloor, and water damage to the second floor from firefighting efforts.

"Unfortunately, the suites on the second and third floor will not be able to be reoccupied any time soon," she said.

"When fire crews arrived, there was heavy smoke coming from the windows and people were trying to evacuate. This is a building that has 96 seniors living inside, some of them have mobility impairments. That makes it more difficult to evacuate quickly," Henke said.

Fire crews evacuated the second and third floors, while people on the other higher floors sheltered in place with a towel under their door.

"That often is the best and safest decision versus taking a stairwell to slowly evacuate," Henke said.

The building is being ventilated for the residents who will eventually be allowed to return.