Firefighters subdue fire at St. Patrick Street apartment, 22 residents displaced

Ottawa firefighters put out a fire at an apartment building on St. Patrick Street. Jan. 4, 2026. (Maddison de Varennes/CTV News Ottawa)

Ottawa Fire Services say 22 residents were temporarily displaced by a fire at a multi-unit residential high-rise in the 600 block of St. Patrick Street on Sunday.

Firefighters responded to reports of haze and a strong burning smell in a three-storey building at 12:50 p.m.

Crews arrived three minutes later and confirmed the haze and the burning odour, and carbon monoxide readings revealed high levels of CO in the building.

The incident was declared a working fire at 2:26 p.m., and additional resources were dispatched to help, including an OC Transpo bus that provided shelter to the building’s residents.

Firefighters say they found no people inside the building after conducting two searches and began a search to locate the source of the fire.

Using a thermal imaging camera, crews discovered a fire inside the wall of a basement unit near a baseboard heater, which they extinguished. The fire was declared under control at 3:17 p.m.

Firefighters say 22 residents were displaced by the fire and Victim Services were sent to assist residents in finding temporary accommodations.

Ottawa Fire Services are investigating to determine the cause of the fire.

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