Townhome fire in Lowertown displaces 3 residents

Firefighters say three residents have been displaced following a townhome fire in Lowertown in the early hours of Saturday morning. (Ottawa Fire Services/ X)

Ottawa Fire Services says three residents have been displaced following a townhome fire in Lowertown in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Firefighters say they received a call around 2:10 a.m., reporting smoke and flames were coming from a two-storey townhome located in the 0-100 block of Nelson Street.

When crews arrived at the scene and saw heavy black smoke coming from the townhome, they quickly started extinguishing the fire from the back of the structure.

Firefighters note that the kitchen and the living room in the first floor were fully engulfed in smoke and flames. The fire was also spreading to the second floor.

It was declared under control at 2:45 a.m., and firefighters prevented it from spreading into the neighbouring units.

Firefighters say they were told by a neighbour who lives in a nearby townhome that everyone had “evacuated the unit but one occupant had to jump from a second-floor window to escape.” They set up ladders to the second floor all around the townhome to evacuate any residents that hadn’t evacuated.

They then conducted two full searches of the townhome and did not find any other occupants inside.

Paramedics say they treated one patient at the scene. they were not taken to hospital. Paramedics did not specify whether the patient who was treated was the one who jumped from the window.

Though the fire did not spread to the adjoining units, a small amount of residual smoke made its way inside. High levels of carbon monoxide were also detected. The structures were ventilated, and residents were allowed to go back inside.

Meanwhile, the residents of the townhome were displaced.

The investigation into what led to the fire is ongoing.