A devastating early morning house fire in northeast Calgary claimed the lives of two people on Thursday, including a nine-year-old girl, and led to a dramatic rescue operation. The blaze occurred around 1:15 a.m. in the 100 block of Taralake Way NE, near Calgary International Airport.
Officials confirmed that Sunny Gill and his daughter Hargun were the two victims who died in the fire. Firefighters found the unconscious girl inside the burning home and rushed her to Alberta Children’s Hospital, where she later died from her injuries. A man in his fifties was found inside and declared dead at the scene.
Two other people, a woman and a 16-year-old, were rescued from the roof of the home and taken to hospital in serious condition. Neighbour Zubair Hanif witnessed the scene and described seeing a woman standing on the roof with her child, yelling that one of her children was still inside. The child she referred to had sustained severe burns. Hanif also helped another woman whose husband was trapped inside by kicking in a door to free him.
When fire crews arrived, flames were already pouring from the two-storey house and threatening nearby homes. Emergency responders did not hear any smoke alarms at the scene, possibly because they had melted in the intense heat.
Carol Henke, a spokesperson for the Calgary Fire Department, called the incident incredibly tragic and noted how quickly fire can become deadly. She emphasized the importance of having working smoke alarms and being prepared to evacuate in minutes. Fire crews and investigators remained on the scene throughout the day. The cause of the fire is still under investigation but is not believed to be criminal in nature.
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