Calgary First Aid: Two Youth in Critical Condition After Edmonton House Fire
Residents of Edmonton’s Lago Lindo neighbourhood are coping with shock and heartbreak after a devastating house fire sent three people to hospital and left two youth in critical condition. The incident highlights how quickly a routine activity like cooking can turn into a life-threatening emergency—and why CPR and first aid training are so important.
Kitchen Grease Fire Sparks Emergency Response
According to Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, crews were dispatched at 9:27 p.m. on Sunday, June 4, 2017, to a single-family home at 17808 93 Street. Fire officials later confirmed the blaze began in the kitchen after overheated cooking oil was left unattended for several minutes.
The fire was largely contained to the kitchen and brought under control within about 20 minutes, limiting further structural damage. However, thick smoke quickly spread through the home, creating dangerous conditions for those inside.
Details of the incident were originally reported by the Edmonton Journal and can be read in full here:
👉 Two youth in critical condition after Edmonton house fire
Fire crews rescued two teenagers from the second floor of the north Edmonton home after they became trapped by smoke. Both were suffering from severe smoke inhalation and required immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the scene.
Alberta Health Services confirmed that one of the teens remained in critical condition, while a young adult believed to be between 17 and 20 years old was also listed in critical condition. A 75-year-old man was transported to hospital with serious airway injuries and dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide.
CPR is a life-saving skill that helps maintain oxygen flow to the brain and vital organs when breathing or cardiac function is compromised. Learning CPR through certified programs—such as CPR and AED training offered by Calgary First Aid—can prepare people to act quickly when every second matters.
👉 https://firstaidcalgary.ca/cpr-courses/
Neighbours Describe Terrifying Moments
Next-door neighbour Joan Kucher described hearing popping sounds and distant sirens while watching a movie with her son. When she stepped onto her deck, she saw flames shooting out of the kitchen window.
“It was just horrible,” Kucher said, describing the emotional toll of watching emergency crews rescue the family. Having lived next door for years, she said witnessing the children being carried out was especially heartbreaking.
Community Members Spring Into Action
Other neighbours also acted swiftly. Penny Williams said her niece and her niece’s boyfriend—both members of the Canadian Forces—called 911 after smelling smoke from their home nearby.
They rushed to the scene, provided wet towels, used a garden hose, and assisted the family until fire crews arrived. Another neighbour brought a ladder to reach the second floor where the children were trapped, while the children’s grandfather attempted to re-enter the home despite suffering from smoke inhalation.
Fire Damage and an Important Safety Reminder
Investigators estimate damage to the home at $400,000, with an additional $100,000 in contents destroyed. Edmonton fire officials also noted that overheated cooking oil fires remain a serious concern, with 69 such fires reported in 2016, eight of which resulted in injuries.
Why CPR and First Aid Training Matter
This incident is a powerful reminder that emergencies can happen without warning. Fires, smoke inhalation, and cardiac or breathing emergencies require fast, informed action. When first responders and trained bystanders know how to provide CPR and first aid, lives can be saved.
Serving Calgary and the surrounding areas the lowest priced, highest quality OH&S approved first aid training, CPR and food safety courses for over 15 years!
Support locally-owned and Canadian-operated businesses, with no partnerships or links with American corporations.