Calgary crews extinguish Royal Oak balcony fire [Video]

The Calgary Fire Department says a cigarette put out in a balcony planter is believed to be what caused a fire in Royal Oak on Wednesday that prompted the evacuation of the entire condo building.

Fire crews were called to the condo complex on Royal Oak Plaza at 7:50 a.m. for reports of a fire on the fourth floor.

“The good news is that external balcony sprinklers really did a good job at containing this fire and limiting the spread,” said Carol Henke, public information officer with the Calgary Fire Department.

“Unfortunately, the fire was strong enough and big enough that it did go into the soffit.”

The fire department says the person living in the condo had tried to extinguish the fire but it was too large.

She managed to escape without getting burned.

The entire building, more than 120 units, had to be evacuated, but officials say one resident slept through the whole thing.

“He …