A neighbor banging on their door helped a Saskatoon family escape as a fire ripped through their home early Sunday.
Mike Dirham first smelled smoke and then spotted the flames on the roof of the residence at 219 Cowley Road shortly after midnight
"We could hear some popping and cracking and then all of a sudden the flames started coming up through the roof,” Dirham said.
Dirham says the family didn't know the house was on fire. He banged on the door, woke them up, and helped get the family and their pets out of the house safely.
Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control in less than an hour and were able to protect the neighbours' homes.
"Damage is extensive because it basically took the roof off the house and we had to set up an aerial ladder in order to control the fire so there was quite a bit of water damage as well," said Saskatoon Fire Department battalion chief Marc DeGirolamo.
There were no injuries, but damage is estimated at $600,000.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is expected to wrap up Monday.
