Three homes destroyed, one damaged in fire in Cougar Ridge

A fire in Cougar Ridge in southwest Calgary destroyedthree homes anddamagedanother on Wednesday afternoon.

At around 2:05 p.m.,Calgary firefighters received reports that a home had caught fire on Cougartown Close S.W.When crews arrived on scene, one house was fully involved in flames that started spreading to the neighbouring home.

Saul Deng and his wifewere at their home with their grandchildren, three doors down from where the blaze broke out.

"Someone knocked on my door and I heard some firefighters coming but didn't know what was happening," said Deng.

"People were saying, 'get out, don't stay home.'"

Several neighbouring houses were evacuated and four residents escaped without injury, but two dogs were unaccounted for, the Calgary Fire Department said.

Deng said he tried to drive away and leave the neighbourhood, but fire crews told him he could only walk due to road conditions and visibility.

A thick black cloud of smoke could be seen rising south of WinSport from nearby neighbourhoods.

The fire department later saidsix people hadbeen displaced from the three homes.

Other residents who were relocated as a precaution were later allowed back in.

Carole Henke, spokespersonwith the fire department, told CBC Newsit was a two-alarm fire.

As of 3:30 p.m., crews remained on the scene trying to prevent the blaze from spreading further.

"[The wind] definitely helps the fire move more quicklyand spread to neighbouring homes," Henke said. "We're asking people to stay out of the area. If you live on this street or in this immediate area, please stay in your homes."

The cause of the fire is under investigation and anyone with photos or information relating to the blaze is asked to send that to the fire department's public information officer.