Sunday's fatal fire was started by human activity, says CPS

An investigation into a fatal fire on Sunday has found that it was started by human activity.

According to a release from the Calgary Police Service, the fire that engulfed a house on Douglas Glen Close SE — and possible explosion that accompanied it — in the early hours of Sunday, February 17, was in some way caused by a person.

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When the Calgary Fire Department arrived at around 4:20 pm, the fire had engulfed a house and was threatening to catch neighbouring buildings.

Firefighters found a man’s body inside the home once it was safe enough to search, and he was identified as the home’s lone occupant.

Following the early morning events, the Calgary Police Service Arson Unit investigated the building and determined that the fire was caused by “human activity,” though they do not consider the man’s death to be suspicious in nature, ruling out any form of arson.

One neighbouring building sustained significant damage, according to the release, but no other injuries or deaths were reported.

This isn’t the first time this month that an explosion has accompanied a fire in Calgary, as a woman’s hairdryer had caused a can of dry shampoo to explode last week.

A small fire had been created as a result of the explosion, though the woman was able to put out the flames before fire crews arrived on scene.