Elderly man critical, residents rescued after Gladstone Avenue fire

An elderly man suffered critical injuries, and several people were rescued after an apartment fire in Centretown. CTV’s Josh Marano reports.

Ottawa paramedics say an elderly man was sent to hospital in life-threatening condition after a fire in Ottawa’s Centretown neighbourhood Sunday night.

Emergency crews were called to the 200 block of Gladstone Avenue around 9:30 p.m.

Upon arrival fire crews were met with heavy smoke conditions and zero visibility on the fourth floor.

Upon entering the apartment where the fire was located, firefighters found a resident unconscious on the floor. The individual was brought downstairs, where firefighters began assessing and treating injuries.

“Firefighters carried that resident down to the lobby where firefighters assessed and treated him, for smoke inhalation and burns, until paramedics were able to transport him to the hospital. The second individual was found in the stairwell,” said Ottawa Fire Services Public Information Officer Nick DeFazio.

“An important note was the fire door to the unit was left open. You want to close it if you’re in an apartment, so always close the door on your way out. If there’s a fire in your apartment, that prevents the smoke from spreading throughout the apartment and from growing.”

Ottawa firefighters also rescued several other people, helping them evacuate the building via the stairwells.

The fire was found in the kitchen of the fourth floor apartment and was quickly extinguished. The blaze was declared under control at 10:04 p.m.

Paramedics say a man in his 70s sustained critical smoke inhalation and severe burns in the fire. He was stabilized on scene and was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition.

“Treatment on scene for severe burns and smoke inhalation is about maintaining airway, treating a patient’s pain and ensuring rapid transport to the hospital,” said Ottawa Paramedic Service Public Information Officer Marc-Antoine Deschamps.

A man in his 80s was also taken to hospital with smoke inhalation in stable condition.

What to do in case of a fire in a high-rise

If you live in a high-rise apartment, Ottawa Fire Services has tips to stay safe. Learn the fire safety features of your building and emergency procedures outlined in your building’s safety plan, and know where all stairwells are located in case one of them is blocked by smoke or fire.

Ottawa Fire Services says most of the time, the safest option is to leave the building as soon as possible in the event of a fire.

In some cases, you might not be able to leave and you might have to remain in your apartment.

In either case, you must act quickly and protect yourself from smoke.

If there is a fire in your unit

• Tell everyone in the unit to leave.
• Close all doors behind you.
• Pull the fire alarm on your floor and yell, “FIRE!”
• Leave the building using the nearest stairway.
• Call 9-1-1 when you are safe.
• Meet the firefighters and tell them where the fire is.

Leaving the building

• Feel the door before opening it. If it is hot, find another way out. If it is cool, leave through the closest stairway.
• Close all doors behind you.
• Do not use the elevator.
• If you encounter smoke in the stairwell, use another stairwell.
• If another stairwell is not an option, return to your apartment or shelter in another apartment if you can.
• If an announcement is made in the building, listen carefully and follow instructions.
• Call 9-1-1 and let them know where you are.

If you can’t get out or if you stay

• Stay in your apartment until you are rescued or until you are told to leave. This may take a long time.
• Do not try to leave a long time after the alarm has sounded. The longer you wait, the more you risk encountering spreading smoke, reducing your chance of survival.
• Use wet towels at the base of doors and duct tape to seal cracks to prevent smoke from entering your apartment. Seal vents or air ducts the same way.

If smoke gets in to your apartment

• Call 9-1-1, tell them where you are, and move to the balcony, if you have one.
• Close all doors behind you.
• If you don’t have a balcony, go to the most smoke-free room, close the door and seal it with tape and towels. If necessary, open the window for fresh air.
• Show emergency personnel where you are by hanging a sheet from the window or balcony.
• Keep low to the floor where the air is cleaner.
• Listen for instructions from authorities.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Josh Marano

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