Residents rescued from St. Albert apartment fire

EDMONTON -- Residents of a St. Albert apartment building had to be rescued from their suites after an early morning fire on Wednesday.

"They were on balconies with fire and smoke shooting over their heads," Platoon Chief Charlie Tye told CTV News Edmonton. "Our crews went and applied a hose line over their head to hold back the fire while our crews went up to the balcony and pulled them off."

Five people were transported to hospital with unknown injuries, according to the City of St. Albert.

Flames broke out at the building on Grange Drive around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. Fire crews from Edmonton and Spruce Grove were called it to help deal with the blaze.

Crews from all 3 stations including off duty call ins with mutual aid help from Edmonton, Spruce Grove and multiple AHS EMS units responded to large apartment fire in south St Albert early this morning. Residents had to be rescued off balconies with ladders due to heavy fire. pic.twitter.com/f6lSExN2iN

— St Albert Firefighters (@saffu2130) May 27, 2020

One resident returned to the building Wednesday afternoon, telling CTV News Edmonton that she needed to collect some items for her children, including her daughter's computer so she can continue her online school work.

The family is staying at the nearby St. Albert Inn for now.

"They told us that they didn’t know how many days," she said. "He wants to make sure that everybody is safe."

The fire reportedly damaged several suites and the roof of the building. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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  An apartment building in St. Albert was evacuated after an early morning fire.

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  Fire damaged a St. Albert apartment building on Wednesday morning.

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  Crews were called to a fire at a St. Albert apartment building early Wednesday morning. (Courtesy: Manoj Mathew)

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  Crews were called to a fire at a St. Albert apartment building early Wednesday morning. (Courtesy: Manoj Mathew)