Man dies in west-end blaze
Posted Jan 24, 2011 01:51:35 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
One man has died after his home was destroyed by a blaze Sunday night. This marks the fiftieth fire-related death in Ottawa since 2001.
Just before 10 p.m. on Sunday firefighters responded to a call for a house fire at the corner of Grenfell and Pratt, between Woodroffe and Merivale.
With flames coming from the basement the fire was quickly upgraded to a two alarm fire. Tankers were called in because the closest hydrants were blocks away. However, by 11:05 p.m. the Firefighters were in defensive mode after the floor had collapsed into the basement.
Firefighters got the fire under control just after 1:30 Monday morning and a steamer had to be called in to help remove the hose which had frozen to the ground.
Crews entered the building a found the body of one elderly male who lived by himself. Ottawa fire estimated the damage to total $400,000.
Marc Messier of Ottawa fire says 50 deaths in ten years is unacceptable.
Especially when these fatalities can be prevented. He says the majority of fatal fires in Ontario have a malfunctioning smoke alarm to blame.
“Whether it just be complacency or it just be a malfunctioning smoke alarm, there are a number of reasons an alarm wouldn’t go off,” said Messier.
He says to change the batteries in your smoke alarm when you change the clocks for daylight savings time and an alarm that’s more than 10 years old should be replaced.
And since alarms are designed to wake sleepers, they should be placed on all three floors, preferably near bedrooms.
And at this time of year when temperatures are well below freezing, our attempts to keep warm can create fire hazards.
Messier says that when using space heaters and electric blankets to follow the instructions that come with them and to keep them away from curtains and beds that can easily catch fire.
He says these units should also be replaced or fixed when they show signs of wear.
