Several people will be displaced following an early morning fire in an apartment building in Ottawa’s Overbrook neighbourhood. The Ottawa Fire Services says its communications division received a call from a monitoring company at approximately 2:30 a.m. Friday, reporting fire alarms at a high-rise building in the 200 block of Donald Street. Several 9-1-1 calls were subsequently received from residents reporting smoke and flames on the eighth floor, according to Ottawa Fire Services public information officer Nick DeFazio. “Several occupants also reported they were trapped and unable to safely leave their apartments,” DeFazio said on X. “Upon arrival, firefighters confirmed heavy smoke and flames coming from an apartment at the rear of the eighth floor. With multiple residents requiring assistance, a second alarm was declared at 02:38 to bring additional resources to the scene.” A photo shared by the Ottawa Fire Services showed flames coming out of the windows and onto the balcony of an apartment. “Firefighters quickly made their way to the eighth floor, where they encountered heavy black smoke banked down to the floor and zero-visibility conditions,” DeFazio said. “Firefighters located the fire unit and advanced a hose line inside. A search confirmed no occupants were in the apartment.” DeFazio said several e-bikes were found burning inside the unit, “which intensified the fire.” The fire was declared under control at 3:22 a.m. “Due to the quick response and fast attack, firefighters contained the flames to the unit of origin before they could spread to neighbouring apartments,” DeFazio said. “Extensive ventilation operations were conducted to remove smoke from the eighth floor through to the 22nd floor.” All residents were escorted to safety by firefighters. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. An Ottawa Paramedic Service spokesperson said paramedics treated three people at the scene, and they were transported to the hospital in stable condition with minor injuries.
