Ottawa Fire Services says firefighters tackled the first fire of 2026 in about 15 minutes, after an alarm went off at a student residence at St. Paul University. Firefighters arrived at the building on Hazel Street at around 10:48 a.m. on New Year’s Day for a fire in a fourth-floor unit. A light fixture in the bathroom was the source of the smoke and flames, which had spread into the nearby walls, OFS Public Information Officer Nick DeFazio said in a post on X. The fire was quickly extinguished and contained to the bathroom. It was declared under control at 11:04 a.m. No one was reported hurt. High-pressure fans were used to remove smoke from the building. Residence staff found alternate accommodations for the displaced student, and the power was turned off in the affected bathroom.
