Smoke alarm alerts resident to fire in their Constance Bay home

The Ottawa Fire Service says a fire engulfed a home on Bayview Drive, along the Ottawa River, in Constance Bay early Friday morning. A resident of the home and a firefighter were treated for injuries. (Ottawa Fire Services/release)

A working smoke alarm helped the occupant of a Constance Bay home to escape from a fire early Friday morning.

The Ottawa Fire Services said 9-1-1 received multiple calls reporting flames in a home on Bayview Drive, along the Ottawa River, just after 12:30 a.m.

“One of the callers indicated the single occupant of the home knocked on their door and reported the home was fully engulfed in flames,” Ottawa Fire Services spokesperson Nick DeFazio said in an email to CTV News Ottawa.

“Upon arrival, firefighters confirmed the home was, in fact, engulfed in smoke and flames with several trees around the home on fire as well.”

The fire was in the area of the city with no hydrants, so firefighters set up a water shuttle system to bring water to the scene from a nearby water source.

“Due to the home being fully engulfed in flames, firefighters were unable to make entry inside,” DeFazio said, adding firefighters initiated a fast attack from the outside of the home.

The fire was declared under control at 1:29 a.m.

DeFazio said the lone occupant of the home told firefighters they were woken up by the sound of the working smoke alarm.

The individual suffered minor burns to their arm while escaping the fire. DeFazio said a firefighter also suffered a minor injury while battling the home. An Ottawa Paramedic Service spokesperson said paramedics assessed one person at the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

All homes in Ontario must have a working smoke alarm. According to the City of Ottawa, every home built after 2014 must have a working smoke alarm on every level and in every sleeping area.

Smoke alarms should be installed on or near the ceiling to detect rising smoke, away from ceiling fans and windows to prevent interference and away from bathrooms and heating and cooking appliances to prevent false alarms.