1 person dead after fire in downtown Calgary

UPDATE: The Calgary Fire Department concluded the fire originated on the stovetop, according to a news release on July 26, 2024. Cooking oil reached ignition temperature, and "once the fire and smoke used up most of the air in the suite, a cracked window allowed air in that resulted in the explosion."

One person is dead following a fire in downtown Calgary.

At approximately 3:45 p.m. on Friday, the Calgary Fire Department received multiple 911 calls about a fire in a suite on the fourth floor of a seven-storey residential building in the 800 block of Sixth Street S.E.

Carol Henke, the public information officer with the fire department, said one resident was found dead by fire crews within the suite where the fire originated. She said one person in the neighbouring suite was injured and was taken to hospital.

Henke said one caller reported hearing an explosion, and at least 50 people were evacuated from the building.

The Calgary Police Service's arson unit was called in.

"Any time there is a fatality, serious injury or large dollar loss, the CPS arson detectives work with our fire investigators, and that is protocol," said Henke.

"It doesn't mean that we believe anything suspicious happened."

A news release from the fire department sent Friday evening noted the building is designated for seniors. It said all of the evacuated residents had been allowed back into their suites.

The fire department said the building has a total of 143 suites and firefighters were also able to contain the blaze to prevent it from spreading to additional units and floors.