Residents evacuated for hours as firefighters searched for hidden flames
Posted Jan 5, 2026 01:39:05 PM.
Last Updated Jan 5, 2026 02:56:57 PM.
Flames hidden within a building’s wall resulted in a lengthy operation for Ottawa fire and the evacuation of residents.
Firefighters said they got a call at 12:50 p.m. on Sunday from a resident who lives in a three-storey residential complex in Lower Town. The 26-unit building was hazy, the caller told officials, and there was a strong odour of something burning.
When they arrived on scene at the 600 block of St. Patrick Street, crews confirmed what the caller said: haze and “a noticeable burning smell on the third floor.” Teams used a carbon monoxide reader, which indicated a high 91 parts per million within the structure.
The situation prompted officials to evacuate all residents to an OC Transpo bus outside.
Firefighters then began the long search of the structure to find where the smoke was coming from. They opened up walls, ceilings and used a thermal imaging camera.
Crews found a heat signature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit inside the wall of a basement unit near a baseboard heater. When they opened the wall, teams found active flames that were quickly extinguished at 3:17 p.m., several hours after the incident was reported.
High-pressure fans were used to ventilate the building.
As a result of the fire, 22 people were displaced. The residents were escorted by officers from Ottawa police to gather essential belongings from their units.
An Ottawa fire investigator was dispatched to the scene to uncover the cause and origin of the flames.
