Calgary firefighters are battling a blaze northwest of a home

A man who was pulled from a burning home on Wednesday morning has died from his injuries, the Calgary Fire Department said.

Officials told CTV News the Calgary Fire Department responded to the home in the 5900 block of Dalton Drive NW at approximately 11:30 a.m.

Upon arrival, smoke was seen coming from the basement.

“When firefighters arrived and went down into the basement, they found an unconscious person who was carried outside,” CFD Public Information Officer Carol Henke said.

He said firefighters began CPR on the male victim and the patient was then transferred to EMS.

The neighbor, who did not want to give his name, watched in disbelief.

“It looked like smoke was coming from upstairs, but then when I went to the back alley, I noticed more smoke coming from the basement,” he said.

“I saw them working with someone. I saw that one of the women in the house was in great pain.”

EMS said a man in his 20s to 30s was taken to Foothills Medical Center in critical condition.

By Wednesday afternoon, CFD said the man had died from his injuries.

“Officers from the Calgary Police Service are working to identify the man and notify family members/relatives,” officials said in a statement.

All four cats in the house died during the fire.

A neighbor calls the situation shocking and disturbing.

“We have a very quiet neighborhood. Usually there are no problems, so when something like this happens, it's a very big surprise,” he said.

Henke says it doesn't take long for dangerous smoke to build up indoors.

“Smoke from a house fire is incredibly toxic and one or two breaths will render you incapable of self-rescue.”

It's unclear if the home had working smoke alarms, but Henke said they heard nothing when firefighters arrived.

“That will be part of the investigation,” he said.

Fire investigators are on scene, as well as fire detectives from the Calgary Police Service, who are dispatched to fires involving serious injuries or fatalities.

Anyone with photos or videos of the fire before CFD arrives is asked to share them by email.