5 residents rescued from northeast Calgary fire by ladder when smoke blocks exit routes

19 residents were displaced from a northeast Calgary building Friday when a fire started in one unit.

An investigation is underway into a structure fire in northeast Calgary Friday.

Fire crews responded at 12:20 p.m. to reports of a fire in a three-storey building on Castleridge Drive N.E.

Crews arrived to discover smoke billowing from a couple of units.

Acting Battalion Chief Morgan Beeger said investigators believe the fire started in one unit, spread to a second and then sent smoke throughout the building.

They say five people were forced onto their balconies because smoke trapped their exit routes.

All five were rescued by ladder.

Beeger said one person suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation, while two others were transported to hospital with smoke inhalation.

An EMS spokesperson confirmed that two adults were transported to hospital in non-life-threatening condition Friday at 12:30 p.m.

Overall, 19 people have been displaced from the building until the smoke is cleared out.

A fire watch continues into the evening.