FATAL FIRE IN CHESTERMERE
Seven relatives perish in blaze
Community members are mourning after seven members of two related families, including four children, died in an overnight house fire Friday following Canada Day celebrations.
The blaze tore through the home in Chestermere, just east of Calgary, at about 2:30 a.m., RCMP said.
Cpl. Tammy Keibel said a boy and a girl, both 12, an eight-yearold girl and a four-year-old boy perished in the fire. A man and a woman both thought to be 38 years old and another woman approximately age 35 also died.
An adult man and four children were able to escape the blaze, Keibel said, with EMS transporting the children to hospital.
The home was owned by Amjad Kamal, the man who survived the fire, neighbour Khaleel Bhatti told Postmedia.
Amjad, his wife and his five children were hosting his brother Asad Kamal and his wife and three children for a barbecue, after which they stayed overnight, Bhatti said.
According to Bhatti, Kamal woke up to the fire and began working to rescue the children inside; he managed to save four of the kids, including one child as young as 1½.
Amjad survived the fire, but his brother Asad Kamal and their wives, Rafiya Kamal and Batool Rashid, all died in the blaze.
“It's very devastating, it's very sad,” Bhatti said.
“It's a deep sorrow and a deep mental stress.”
Calgary Imam Syed Soharwardy with the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada confirmed the families' identities.
He said both families were members of his congregation at Green Dome Mosque in northeast Calgary, as well as the Al-madinah Chestermere Islamic Centre.
“They were very nice people, very down-to-earth, good Muslims,” Soharwardy said. “They were good Canadians.”
Fire crews could be seen cleaning the remnants of the burnt-out home on the 300 block of Oakmere
They were very nice people, very down-to-earth, good Muslims. They were good Canadians.
IMAM SYED SOHARWARDY
Close Friday afternoon.
Fire, RCMP and forensic officials were at the scene of the blaze, and a towing company could be seen taking a vehicle from the home's driveway.
The roof and back of the home were burned out. Panels on a neighbouring home appeared to be damaged.
Doyle Kelly said he ran over to the neighbouring house to alert everyone inside to get out when he saw the blaze.
“I ran over there and rang their doorbell, banged on their door. I left because the wind picked up and the fire was going pretty good,” said Kelly. “Then everyone retreated.”
Kim Brenner, who lives nearby, said she heard a loud bang around 2 a.m. and people shouting to call 911. She said she believed several people were staying at the home and a new family had just moved in a few months ago.
Brenner said several people gathered outside as emergency crews worked.
“We're all just devastated,” said Brenner. “I was praying hard.”
Yvonne Toney also lives nearby. She said she also heard the loud bang before her husband called 911.
“I got up and looked out the window and all I could see was the entire house in flames,” said Toney.
“It was pretty scary. It was so close. And yeah, I'm a little shaken today still.”
Chestermere-strathmore MLA Leela Aheer, who represents the area, was on-site following the fire, comforting residents.
“I just feel gutted for the loss of this beautiful family, and the children. It's too much to bear,” Aheer told reporters through tears.
Mayor Marshall Chalmers called for the community to come together to grieve, listen and support those impacted in a statement issued Friday afternoon.
“Words cannot effectively express the devastation on our community. Our minds cannot fully comprehend the overwhelming loss. And our hearts ache for this family, this neighbourhood, and the community at large,” Chalmers said.
“We thank those across the province for their thoughts and prayers for our community during this very difficult time.”
Chambers joined Soharwardy and members of the Muslim community in prayer at a local recreation centre Friday afternoon.
Keibel said fire investigators remained on-scene to complete investigations, with the cause of the blaze still unknown.
“However, at this point, the preliminary investigation does not indicate that it is criminal in nature,” Keibel said.