Crews face propane hazard while tackling large fire at east end business

Firefighters spent two-and-a-half hours tackling a two-alarm fire at a store in Gloucester late Wednesday night.

Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) responded to the 5300 block of Canotek Road, between Rainbow Street and Green Creek Drive, just before 11 p.m.

Fire dispatch had received multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting smoke and flames coming from a storefront and several callers said the flames could be seen from Highway 174.

Based on the number of calls, a working fire was declared while crews were on route, and upon arrival, firefighters confirmed the structure was completely engulfed in smoke and flames.

Firefighters quickly began a fast attack by moving a hose line inside the building and setting up an aerial ladder.

OFS says propane inside the building created a hazard for firefighters and that the store housed both rims and tires, adding fuel to the fire.

An OFS safety officer shut off the natural gas and the electrical to the affected unit, as firefighters had to use saws to cut around natural gas lines in order to access the fire.

The fire was declared under control shortly before 1:30 a.m., about two hours after crews were dispatched to the scene.

There are no injuries reported and OFS credits a quick response time and fast attack containing the fire to the unit of origin.

A fire investigator was dispatched to determine the origin and cause.

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