Firefighters had a busy Wednesday evening and overnight into Thursday as they quickly contained and extinguished two residential house fires.
The first call of smoke and flames came at 8:35 p.m. Dec. 18. Multiple people reported to crews that a kitchen fire had broken out in a multi-unit residential structure in the 100 block of Cumberland Street, in the Lowertown neighbourhood.
Two minutes after the calls, the first firefighters arrived and confirmed smoke coming from the first floor of the building. Officials broke down the door and quickly brought a hose inside to douse the flames.
A second crew began searching the unit and others next door — no one was found.
The flames were coming from the kitchen at the back of the unit and firefighters said it was “quickly contained” without spreading.
After another search to ensure no hot spots were detected, people were allowed to return home. Nick DeFazio, media relations officer with Ottawa Fire Services, told CityNews that the three people whose kitchen was on fire will be displaced, and victim services are working with them.
The second fire came less than six hours later at 2:04 a.m. in a single-family home. A 911 caller reported “heavy” smoke coming from the basement of the residence in the 9000 block of Victoria Street, in the Metcalfe community.
Outside crews met a single occupant who said they were the only one home at the time.
After a fast attack on the fire and a hose line to the basement, the fire was brought under control just 40 minutes later.