Three firefighters fall through floor while battling Sandy Hill blaze

Three Ottawa firefighters have escaped injury after falling through the floor while battling an early morning blaze in Sandy Hill.

Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) are still on scene of a fire in the 100 block of Osgoode Street.

Crews were called to the fire shortly before 5:30 a.m. Thursday after multiple 9-1-1 callers reported thick black smoke and flames coming from a row of three-storey townhomes.

Firefighters were on scene within three minutes of being dispatched and confirmed smoke and flames coming from two of the townhomes.

A second alarm was declared in order to dispatch backup to the scene.

According to OFS, each townhome included approximately six units and whole doing searches, one occupant was rescued.

Around 6 a.m., three firefighters began to fall through the floor of one unit, but were caught and quickly pulled to safety.

The firefighters were brought outside to be assessed by the Ottawa Paramedic Service and were released without injury.

An exclusion zone was also set up on scene due to the partial structure collapse.

The fire was declared under control at 8:12 a.m. and an investigator has been brought in to determine the cause and origin of the fire.