At 1:30 a.m. on Thursday May 21, Chestermere Fire Service were dispatched to a townhouse in Rainbow Falls. When they arrived at the scene, the home on Rainbow Falls Green was engulfed in flames.
A father and his two teenage daughters were able to escape the torched home and reported that it was the continuous barking of the family dogs that woke them to the blaze. Once out of the home, he called 911 and began waking up neighbours so they too could safely get out of their homes.
Investigators say the fire started on the back deck and eventually spread to the attic, causing significant damage. An adjacent home was also damaged in the fire, but officials say it could have been much worse.
“These properties are designed with a fire break in the middle; a firewall which did its job,” says Deputy Chief Richard Millar with the Chestermere Fire Service. “There was a little bit of water damage, but that was from the water being put on the affected property.”
At this time, the cause of the fire is unknown and also if the home is able to be saved and repaired or if it will have to be demolished.
The community of Chestermere has rallied around these to families and two fundraising campaigns have been started. If you wish to donate, please visit gofundme.com or legup.ca
