Young girl, adult dead following house fire in northeast Calgary

A nine-year-old girl and a man in his 50s are dead following a house fire early Thursday morning in northeast Calgary.

Crews were called to the 100 block of Taralake Way N.E. at about 1:20 a.m., Calgary Fire Department spokesperson Carol Henke said.

When crews arrived, flames were visible from both floors of the house and the fire was threatening neighbouring homes.

A teen and an adult who had escaped from the second floor onto the roof were rescued by firefighters, Henke said.

Once inside the house, firefighters located a man in his 50s who had died.

An unconscious child was also found in the house. The nine-year-old girl was taken to hospital where she later died, officials later said.

Next-door neighbour Zubair Hanif — whose home was also damaged — said he helped kick in some of the doors to reach people in the house as the fire quickly spread. 

"It's still shocking and still in shock. Like, how it happened and how quickly it happened and how quickly the things can change in your life," he said.

Two other people remain in hospital.

Two adults who were in the basement at the time of the fire were able to escape the house. They were assessed at the scene by EMS.

Police say the fire is believed to be non-criminal in nature and no further details will be released.