Firefighters helped evacuate multiple residents and contained a second-alarm fire to a single apartment in a high-rise building early this morning.
At approximately 02:33, the Ottawa Fire Services Communications Division received a call from a monitoring company reporting active fire alarms at a residential high-rise building in the 200 block of Donald Street. Multiple 9-1-1 calls were subsequently received from residents reporting smoke and flames on the eighth floor. Several occupants also reported they were trapped and unable to safely leave their apartments.
Upon arrival, Firefighters confirmed heavy smoke and flames coming from an apartment at the rear of the eighth floor. With multiple residents requiring assistance, a second alarm was declared at 02:38 to bring additional resources to the scene.
Firefighters quickly made their way to the eighth floor where they encountered heavy black smoke banked down to the floor and zero-visibility conditions. Two aerial ladders were positioned at the rear of the building to support fire operations and conduct balcony rescues if needed.
Firefighters located the fire unit and advanced a hose line inside. A search confirmed no occupants were in the apartment. Several e-bikes were burning inside the unit which intensified the fire.
The fire was declared under control at 03:22. Due to the quick response and fast attack, Firefighters contained the flames to the unit of origin before they could spread to neighbouring apartments.
Extensive ventilation operations were conducted to remove smoke from the eighth floor through to the 22nd floor.
Multiple residents are expected to be displaced as a result of the fire.
Thank you to
@OC_Transpo for providing a bus to shelter evacuated residents. Our partners from
@OttawaParamedic assessed and treated multiple residents at the scene.
An
@OttFire Investigator remains on scene to determine the cause and origin of the fire.
#OttNews
📸 OFS Photographer Jean Lalonde