Family and friends gathered at the George C. King Tower in the East Village on Friday to remember Gail Davies-Howard. Davies-Howard passed away on July 19th after a fire started in her fourth-floor apartment, leading to an explosion, according to the Calgary Fire Department. Friends described her as a kind woman who was an artist and writer.
“Gail was a sweet lady,” said Francine Kreba, a resident of the King Tower who was evacuated during the explosion. “As I came out the front door, the windows blew out. There was an explosion — two of them — and all the glass went flying,” Kreba recounted. The intensity of the fire prevented residents from reaching Davies-Howard’s apartment in time. “They couldn’t get her out because they couldn’t get the door open,” said Kreba, referring to those who attempted to reach Davies-Howard during the fire. “I’m praying for Gail and her family and I’m so sorry that this tragedy happened, but let’s make something good come from this tragedy and improve our safety in all the buildings around here.”
The Calgary fire department determined the fire was caused by food cooking on a stove that was left unattended. This is a common cause of fires, according to public information officer Carol Henke. “The room starts filling with smoke and hot gases and sometimes in certain situations if fresh air, oxygen is introduced to the environment it can create an explosion,” Henke explained. The fire department also revealed that the smoke alarm in the unit was not working. “It is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure there are working smoke alarms in the suites, but it is the tenants’ responsibility to maintain them. So testing them once a month making sure the battery is changed once a year,” Henke emphasized.
Ward 7 councillor Terry Wong attended the memorial and stressed the importance of community support. “We need to be supportive with each other and be available to each other, especially during catastrophic situations like this — to be empathetic and compassionate — just being aware of each other is critical, especially if you’re living alone,” Wong said. Trinity Place Foundation has been assisting residents displaced by the fire while their homes are repaired. The tragedy serves as a reminder of the importance of fire safety and the need for community members to be aware of and support their neighbors, particularly during emergencies.
