Elderly woman dead in Lynnwood townhouse fire

An elderly woman is deadand a man and a firefighter weretaken tohospital after a fire at a townhousein the southeast community of Lynnwoodon Thursday.

The Calgary Fire Department said crews were called to a home on Lynnview Road S.E. just after 5 p.m.

According to a release, anelderly man was sleeping upstairs when he heard the smoke alarm in the home go off. After going downstairs he found a fire growing in the kitchen and when he couldn't put it out, he went outside.

Firefighters said the man realized his mother was still in the home, but whenhe tried to goback inside to help her, hewas unable to because of thick smoke. He cried out for help, at which pointneighbours called 911.

When fire crews arrived at the home they were able to bring the elderly woman outside. Shehad fatal injuries. The man was taken to hospital by EMS to be treated for smoke inhalation, firefighters said.

While battling thefire, the Calgary Fire Department said one firefighter suffered a laceration and needed to be taken to hospital by EMS.

The fire department added crews worked quickly to contain the fire, but the townhousewas significantly damaged and adjoiningtownhouses were slightly damaged by smoke. As of about 8 p.m. Thursday, crews remained at the home putting out hotspots.

It's unclear how the fire started, but fire investigators and arson detectives with Calgary police are looking into it.