Barking dog alerts people to dangerous fire in Alberta, Canada

A dog has been praised for alerting around 15 people to a dangerous fire in the Alberta community of Blackfalds.

A townhouse quickly erupted into flames at around 2.30am local time on Wednesday morning, before residents were alerted to the one-year-old pitbull’s barking.

“I probably would have been dead,” resident Justin Zieverink told Global News. “Thank God for that dog.”

Mr Zieverink, the owner of the dog, quickly banged on his neighbour’s doors, urging them to escape as quickly as they could.

An explosion from a barbeque propane increased the size of the blaze, which quickly set off other propane tanks.

“There’s six houses here, all families, couple families and young kids live in here,” Mr Zieverink said.

Another resident said the residents were extremely lucky to escape unharmed.

“If it wasn’t for that dog barking,” neighbour Wyatt Dixon told the news station.

The fire caused extensive damage to the units, and melted garbage bins outside.

No one was injured in the blaze.

Firefighters believe the blaze may have ignited from an improperly disposed cigarette on a deck.