One resident dead, multiple firefighters injured in two alarm house fire

One person is dead and multiple firefighters sustained minor injuries from the response to a two alarm fire at a residence in Barrhaven West.

Shortly before 5 p.m. on Saturday, firefighters received multiple 911 calls reporting heavy black smoke and a visible flame from a single-family home at the 10 block of Swilken Burn.

When firefighters arrived, they confirmed the garage and residence were fully involved in the fire. A “working fire” was declared moments later to dispatch additional resources to the scene.

A second alarm was called at 5:02 p.m.

It was reported that an elderly resident was inside who could not get out. Firefighters attempted to rescue the man but were were evacuated out of the structure due to dangerous conditions. It was another 4.5 hours before the fire was declared under control as firefighters attacked from the exterior.

The elderly resident died in the fire.

“On behalf of the Ottawa Fire Services, I would like to send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the resident who perished in the fire yesterday on Swilken Burn in the city’s west end,” OFS Chief Paul Hutt posted on X.

Multiple firefighters also sustained minor injuries but none were transported to hospital.

Victim Services was dispatched to the scene to help affected residents.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown and is under investigation.

Correction: A previous version of this story stated that the elderly resident was a man. It has not been confirmed at this time whether the victim was a man or a woman.