OFS quick response contains high-rise fire before spread

Ottawa Fire Services initiated a fast attack on a fire at a multi-unit residential high-rise, extinguishing flames before they could spread to adjoining units.

Shortly after 6 p.m. Thursday evening, OFS received a call from a monitoring agency reporting active fire alarms in the residential high-rise building located in the 100 block of McLeod St. in Centretown. Responders say that subsequent 9-1-1 callers reported a hallway full of smoke on the seventh floor.

Firefighters arrived on scene three minutes after dispatch and confirmed the smoke coming from the seventh floor. When firefighters made their way up to the seventh floor, they were met with heavy smoke conditions, OFS says.

Firefighters were able to locate the apartment of origin and found the fire was in the living room area.

Two full searches of the apartment were completed to confirm no occupants were inside.

The fire was declared under control at 6:37 p.m.

OFS say crews used high-pressurized fans to ventilate the residual smoke out of the structure before allowing residents back inside.

A fire investigator was dispatched to the scene to determine the cause of the fire.