Bystander climbed Gregoire apartment building to alert residents to fire

A man helped extinguish a fire on Canada Day after climbing the outside of a four-storey building to alert residents.

Just before 4:30 p.m. on July 1, multiple 911 calls were received about a balcony fire on the third floor of a Gregoire apartment/condominium building. Fort McMurray Fire Department pumpers and paramedics responded.

When firefighters arrived, they found the fire had already been extinguished. A bystander had scaled the outside of the building and knocked on the patio door to alert those inside. He then assisted a resident in extinguishing the fire.

The bystander sustained minor injuries. No other injuries were reported.

Damage was limited to the balcony. The fire was caused by improperly extinguished smoking materials.