OFS battle back-to-back kitchen fires in 24 hours

Ottawa firefighters have had a busy 24 hours, battling two kitchen fires at multi-residential high rises.

The first fire was reported shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Thursday when OFS received a 9-1-1 call from an occupant of a second-floor apartment in the 1100 block of Shillington Avenue. The occupant reported the kitchen was on fire.

When firefighters arrived on scene, they confirmed smoke and flames visible from the second floor of the three-storey walk-up.

Firefighters quickly advanced a hose line inside and entered the unit to face high heat and heavy smoke. The fire was located in the kitchen and living room and was extinguished before it could spread.

No occupants were found inside the unit, but three residents were on the third-floor balcony and in distress from the smoke, which made its way into their unit. Firefighters quickly set up a ladder to safely rescue the residents from the balcony. Another resident was found in the stairwell and brought to safety. One of the residents collapsed from smoke inhalation, requiring medical attention.

The fire was declared under control shortly before 5 p.m. High pressurized fans were used to ventilate the building and air quality was monitored before allowing residents to return to their units.

The second fire occurred around 8:42 a.m. Friday morning. A 9-1-1 caller reported a kitchen fire in a tenth-floor high-rise in the 300 block of Metcalfe Street.

When firefighters arrived on scene they confirmed smoke coming from the roof of the building. Firefighters quickly made their way into the building and to the tenth floor, where flames were visible. The flames were extinguished and the fire was brought under control before it could spread.

No occupants were found inside the apartment. One resident was assessed and treated for smoke inhalation.

Residual smoke was ventilated out of the building before residents were allowed back inside.