Fire at Kanata restaurant prompts evacuation and search of strip mall

Firefighters needed to go through several businesses to ensure there were no more flames after a fire broke out in a strip mall on Monday.

Crews responded to 700 Eagleson Rd. in Ottawa’s west end around 2:09 p.m. There was a call from a Subway restaurant reporting smoke from a washroom. Within two minutes, firefighters confirmed heavy smoke in the bathroom in the low-rise commercial plaza.

As officials followed the trail, they found the smoke was coming from a unit two doors down inside a Wild Wings restaurant. The fire was found in a hidden space between the ceiling and the roof above an office area.

Crews used chainsaws to cut openings and remove the insulation to extinguish the flames.

This small space where the fire was found prompted crews to search the remaining businesses in the plaza to ensure all employees and customers had evacuated.

A second alarm was called for additional resources to allow crews to rotate due to the high heat conditions.

When the fire was under control at 3:13 p.m., teams went around with a thermal imaging camera to check for any more concealed hot spots within the walls and roof. Extensive ventilation was needed to clear the smoke from the building.

Ottawa fire reported no injuries during the incident. A fire investigator was dispatched to the scene.