‘Horrifying to watch’: Two escape fire and explosions at home south of Calgary
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OKOTOKS – Pieces of white insulation resembling snow scattered across an upscale rural subdivision south of Calgary on Thursday after multiple explosions and a fire at a home.
The blaze forced two people out of the residence in the neighbourhood on North Coulee Trail, about 18 kilometres northeast of Okotoks, Alta.
Fire crews were called at about 7 a.m. about the blasts, which blew the roof off the house.
“When they arrived on scene, the house was fully involved. It was completely on fire,” said Dave Simms, deputy chief of the Foothills Fire Department.
“Both residents were able to exit the building, and they were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.”
The fire also forced the closure of a nearby school, where parents were told to pick up their children.
It’s a surprise no one was injured in such a significant fire, Simms said.
“I’m very glad,” he said. “It’s currently under investigation so I can’t say any more on that front.”
The fluffy insulation could be seen for several blocks. One resident in the area used a leaf blower to move clumps from his driveway.
Wendy Jones, who lives across the street from the fire, said she and he husband were asleep when they heard a huge bang.
“My husband said something fell off the wall in my office,” she said, adding they had a guest staying from Chicago, who was outside at the time.
“He came upstairs, and then he said there’s a fire. It just kept exploding. It was just mushrooming up into the sky.”
Jones said she was worried flames would spread to trees on nearby properties but, fortunately, they didn’t.
“It was horrifying to watch, because it’s somebody’s home.”
“It just kept exploding and the flames kept getting bigger and higher,” she said. “It was absolutely frightening.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2026.