Calgary fire crews contain garage blaze in 2300 block of Mackay Road NW

Fire crews contained a blaze to a detached garage in the 2300 block of Mackay Road NW in Calgary after responding just before 10 a.m., the Calgary Fire Department said in a Nov. 5 release. No injuries were reported.

Crews arrived to find heavy flames and smoke coming from the garage behind a single-storey residential property. Firefighters ran a high-volume hose line into the alley to knock down the fire and a second line into the backyard to keep it from reaching the home.

The fire department said the home was considered vacant. Its windows and doorways were boarded up, and its utilities had previously been disconnected.

People in neighbouring homes got out on their own. The fire did not spread to the home or neighbouring homes, but the garage sustained severe structural damage.

A fire investigator attended the scene, and the cause remains under investigation. A fire watch crew has been assigned to monitor conditions, the department said.

Reporting property concerns

The fire department is part of the Coordinated Safety Response Team, which works with other agencies on vacant and problem properties that may pose safety risks.

Calgarians can report concerns about such properties through Calgary 311. The department asks callers to provide the address or location, a description of the concern, when it was observed and photos if they can be taken safely. The information helps city staff assess the concern and direct it to the appropriate service.

People should not enter a property or put themselves at risk to gather information. For an emergency or immediate threat to life or safety, call 911.