Fire crews battle blaze on Donald Street for the second time in a week

Ottawa fire crews dealt with a blaze on Donald Street for the second time in less than a week.

Ottawa fire responded to a blaze at 1240 Donald St. shortly before midnight Friday and evacuated the 18-storey building, after crews reported heavy smoke from the 2nd floor.

Paramedics treated and assessed seven people at the scene, and one nine-year-old boy was transported to hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation. He is now listed as being in stable condition.

Mark Messier with Ottawa Fire told 1310News crews were able to quickly gain control of the blaze.

“We managed to keep the smoke from [going] into other floors,” he said. “The unit of origin was searched and cleared.”

The blaze comes within days of a fire next door at 1244 Donald St., where over 700 residents were displaced for two days.

Messier confirmed both buildings belong to the same owner, however he said the fires are not related.

“It is in one of the apartments, so it’s not anything similar to the one they had at 1244.”

Fire crews have determined the blaze was sparked by a cigarette that was not properly disposed of in a bedroom of the apartment.

Damages are estimated at $100,000.

Residents boarded two OC Transpo busses while they waited to go back into the building. While most residents were allowed back into the building at 1:32 a.m., tenants on the second floor were allowed back in at 2:06 a.m.