Residents living in a 3-storey building on Somerset St W in Ottawa Sunday night were able to escape a basement fire.
The fire was coming from the electrical panel in the residential/commercial building according to Ottawa Fire Services (OFS). The residents live above the business reported heavy smoke filling the hallways.
Ottawa fire was called to the scene just before 9 p.m. and safely located everyone inside who evacuated safely. No injuries were reported and no other occupants were found in the building.
Once the location of the fire was identified, crews initiated a “fast attack” and quickly brought the fire under control in less than half an hour after ariving on scene.
Firefighters opened up the walls and ceiling around the electrical panel and ensured there was no further fire concern.
High levels of carbon monoxide were found inside so efforts to safely ventilate the toxins and smoke out of the structure were done.
Residents were then able to return back into their units later that night.