Three generations of family have firefighters and neighbours to thank after they were rescued from their flaming south-Edmonton home early Thursday morning.
CTV News is told everyone in the household was sleeping soundly while a blaze spread throughout the structure. Off-duty firefighters called 911 when they smelled smoke.
As soon as rescue crews arrived on scene, they took aggressive action to get everyone out safely.
"We saw a fire on the back deck," said Cpt. Craig Kerry with Edmonton Fire and Rescue. "The occupants of the home, a mother and a daughter and her child were sleeping at the time of the fire, and firefighters actually broke into the house to rescue the people."
Everyone is said to be in good condition.
Investigators say the blaze sparked from an improperly extinguished cigarette butt in a planter.
Damage is estimated at $500,000.
With Files from Susan Amerongen
