‘Screaming for help’: Firefighters rescue child, cat and others from blaze

Firefighters tackled an involved blaze in the Hunt Club area around 8:30 p.m. yesterday with multiple trapped people inside the home.

Crews received a 911 call reporting an odour of natural gas in a multi-unit three-storey stacked townhome in the 100 block of Twyford Street. When they arrived, firefighters saw a large amount of smoke coming from the building. The door to the unit had a heat signature that a fire was inside.

More crews quickly arrived before they broke through the locked door and initiated a fast attack.

People were screaming from inside the burning building. Officials followed the cries for help to find an adult and a child on the floor of the kitchen. Outside crews set up a medical station where patients were assessed and treated for injuries.

One person had escaped before firefighters arrived and was treated by officials. By 9:21 p.m. the blaze was declared under control.

On the second full search of the building, a firefighter found and rescued a cat and gave it oxygen.

Fans were needed to ventilate the home and the air quality was monitored before residents of other units were allowed back inside.

Victims services were dispatched to the scene including a fire investigator.

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