South Ottawa bungalow decimated by heavy flames, dangerous conditions
Posted Feb 26, 2026 01:44:30 PM.
Last Updated Feb 26, 2026 01:46:49 PM.
Firefighters described a disastrous blaze that destroyed a bungalow in North Gower on Wednesday afternoon.
Crews arrived within three minutes of the call, but they encountered heavy flames and dangerous conditions, forcing them to attack the inferno from the outside. The call came in at 3:07 p.m., reporting a “whole house is on fire” in the 5900 block of Price of Wales Drive.
The caller was a neighbour and quickly more calls came in about the blaze.
When fire crews arrived, they found two people had evacuated, as teams set up to tackle the flames.
“Crews immediately encountered significant hazards,” a release reads. “An arcing powerline had burned through and fallen at the front of the home, creating a dangerous condition.”
As officials were dousing the fire, another live hydro line came down, adding to the dangers. Multiple hoses were around the building, and tanker trucks brought in water from a source since there aren’t fire hydrants in this portion of the city.
Because of how scorched the home was, firefighters could not go inside to search for people; however, the residents said they were the only two people in the home.
The department also deployed an aerial hose to help suppress the fire from above. The blaze was under control by 6:10 p.m.
An excavator was brought in to help firefighters move rubble and douse further hot spots.
A fire investigator was dispatched to determine the cause and origin of the incident.
