Firefighters face home collapse while battling blaze in Stittsville
Posted Jul 30, 2024 08:49:21 AM.
Last Updated Jul 31, 2024 04:04:55 AM.
Firefighters battled through dangerous conditions while knocking down a house fire in Stittsville Monday evening.
Shortly after 5:30 p.m., Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) responded to a single-family home in the 0-100 block of Ridingview Crescent, after a 9-1-1 caller reported flames shooting up from an attached garage.
Crews arrived on scene and confirmed the fire had spread from the garage up to the attic of the home and flames could be seen going through the roof.
Firefighters battled a large structure fire in Stittsville yesterday.
— Ottawa Fire Services (@OttFire) July 30, 2024
At approx. 17:38, the Ottawa Fire Services Communications Division received a 9-1-1 call reporting a large single family home in the 0-100 block of Ridingview Cres had flames coming out of the attached… pic.twitter.com/2t9HutTUVd
It was confirmed that all occupants had already exited the home safely and firefighters began a fast attack on the blaze.
An aerial ladder was set up to attack the flames from above, and because the home is located in an area without hydrants, firefighters had to shuttle water to the scene using tanker trucks.
As the fire continued to burn, multiple areas of the home collapsed to the ground and several exclusion zones were set up by an OFS safety officer to keep firefighters safe.
Due to the ongoing safety risks inside the home, firefighters set up a defensive attack to extinguish the fire from outside.
The fire was declared under control at 7:30 p.m., though the scene wasn’t cleared until after midnight when all hot spots were confirmed to be out.
A fire investigator is now working to determine the cause and origin and victims’ services has also responded.