BANFF – Banff’s fire department was quick to respond to a house fire on Banff Avenue on Monday evening (Sept. 12), rescuing a dog trapped inside one of the units.
Deputy Fire Chief Russ Geyer said the firefighters were called to a duplex on the 500 block of Banff Avenue about 5 p.m. on Sept. 12 after a fire had started in the laundry room.
“We evacuated the occupants of the unit, and from the rear adjoining unit, as a precaution, we forced the door open to free a dog that was home alone,” he said.
The small dog of unknown breed was assessed and deemed fine.
“As we searched through the building we could see it in there and there was no one home so we freed it in case the fire developed, which it did not,” said Geyer.
“No people were injured and the dog wasn’t injured.”
Banff Fire Department responded with three fire trucks and 25 firefighters. Banff EMS was also on scene.
Geyer said crews ran a hose line into the building and the fire was contained to the laundry room of the front unit.
“When our crews got on scene, smoke and flame were observed,” said Geyer.
“There really wasn’t a lot of damage, a bit of smoke damage and a bit water damage.”
The investigation continues, but the department believes it has determined the cause of the fire.
“The cause was from a faulty dryer, causing electrical arcing, which ignited clothing and debris behind the dryer,” said Geyer.
