Home heavily damaged in late night blaze

Two young girls are being credited for helping three people escape a potentially deadly house fire.

The Saskatoon Fire Department got to 543 Hampton Circle around 10 p.m. Sunday night.

Crews arrived to find the home engulfed in flames so high they were visible from several blocks away.

With the house already fully ablaze, firefighters couldn’t go inside. Instead, they worked to get the fire under control from the outside, while protecting the house next door from the flames.

The natural gas line into the house was damaged during the blaze, forcing firefighters to order onlookers to leave the scene while a team from SaskEnergy got the gas shut off.

With the gas shut off and the flames under control, crews were able to enter the home to make sure the fire was completely out.

A fire department media release praised the quick thinking of two unidentified young girls who spotted the flames as they were passing by. They reportedly pounded on the front door, alerting three people inside to the danger in time for them to get out safely.

No injuries were reported, but the house itself suffered heavy damage estimated at $450,000.

A fire investigator found the blaze was caused by improper disposal of smoking material.

Cellphone video of a fire at 543 Hampton Circle on Aug. 27, 2017. (Jordan Anderson/Submitted)