Ottawa firefighters extinguish dual high-rise kitchen fires

Ottawa firefighters extinguished a kitchen blaze inside a high-rise in the 2000 block of Draper Avenue. (Ottawa Fire Services/X)

Ottawa firefighters were quick to extinguish two dangerous kitchen fires in separate high-rise apartments this week.

The first began on Tuesday at approximately 7:25 a.m. when the Ottawa Fire Services received a 911 call reporting a fire in the 2000 block of Draper Avenue, west of Greenbank Road.

Firefighters arrived on scene within three minutes of being dispatched and could see black smoke coming from a fifth-floor balcony, according to a post to social media from the Ottawa Fire Services.

“Crews quickly made their way to the fifth floor where they encountered heavy smoke conditions. The fire unit was located and firefighters made entry, confirming heavy flames in the kitchen,” a post on X from the fire service said.

The fire was contained to the kitchen and declared under control at 7:42 a.m.

Searches of the apartment found no residents inside, but a cat was located by firefighters in a bathtub.

“The animal was safely brought outside, provided oxygen, and reunited with its owner,” Ottawa Fire Services said.

Victim Services attended to assist three adults displaced from the unit. No injuries were reported.

A second high-rise fire was reported Wednesday shortly after 11 a.m. when firefighters received a 911 call reporting smoke from the sixth floor of a seven-storey apartment in the 700 block of Springland Drive near Mooney’s Bay Park.

Firefighters were at the scene within three minutes and encountered black smoke in the hallways on both the fifth and sixth floors.

On entry to the unit, firefighters found a pot had been left on the stove, according to X. The fire was extinguished at 11:50 a.m.

“The occupant of the unit sustained burns to their hands and was assessed and treated by firefighters in the lobby, including the administration of oxygen,” the fire service said.

The person was then transferred to the care of paramedics. There were no other occupants inside.

Residual smoke was ventilated from the building before allowing residents to return to their homes.

An Ottawa Fire Services investigator attended the scene to conduct an investigation into the fire.

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