The Airdrie Fire Department (AFD) got some help from the neighbours yesterday (October 18) to prevent a fire on the exterior of a duplex from getting inside the home.  

Just before 5:00 pm, AFD responded to the structure fire at a home on the 200 Block of Summerwood Place SE.  When fire crews arrived they found neighbours with a garden hose battling a small blaze at the exterior rear of a duplex.  The fire department credits their quick actions from preventing the blaze from breaching into the home's interior.

In spite of their efforts, the interior received heavy smoke damage.  A family of three who were at home at the time of the incident managed to safely evacuate into the street and have now been temporarily displaced from the home.  Fortunately, no one was injured.

Firefighters extinguished what remained of the fire and opened up portions of the interior wall and ceiling.  They used a thermal imaging camera to check for any possible extension of the blaze.

The Fire Prevention Bureau has set an estimate of damage to the structure and it's contents at $80,000.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Five pieces of apparatus and 14 firefighters were on scene.

There were no working smoke alarms in the residence and AFD wants to remind everyone that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors must be installed, maintained and tested.  The fire department says working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors save lives. 

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