Beltline penthouse fire forces evacuations, road closures

Emergency crews extinguished a two-alarm fire in Calgary's Beltline on Friday afternoon after flames and heavy smoke erupted from a residential penthouse.

Firefighters responded to the building at 1001 13th Avenue S.W., near Ninth Street, around 4:30 p.m. The fire was located in the ceiling of one of the penthouse units on the 15-storey building. Crews helped residents evacuate or shelter in place on the lower floors.

One person sustained minor injuries during evacuation and was transported to hospital. One firefighter also suffered minor injuries but did not require hospitalization. A road closure remained in effect along 13th Avenue between Ninth and Tenth Street S.W. as of Friday evening.

The cause of the fire was not immediately determined. The neighbourhood saw significant smoke visible across downtown as crews worked to contain the blaze.