Two people have died after a fire broke out in a 19th-floor apartment on Somerset Street West in Ottawa. Officials say four were rescued, including three found unconscious inside the unit and one pulled from a smoke-filled balcony.
Ottawa Fire Services received the first alarm at 9:36 p.m. on March 14, followed by multiple 911 calls reporting flames and trapped residents. One caller reported being stranded on the balcony due to intense heat and smoke.
Fire crews arrived within minutes, encountering heavy smoke and full-room flames. They advanced a hose line and began immediate search and rescue operations.
Three victims were found unresponsive inside the apartment and moved to the hallway for emergency care. A fourth was rescued from the balcony. A fifth resident from the same floor was safely evacuated.
CPR was administered to two of the victims by firefighters and paramedics in the building lobby. Despite efforts, both later died.
The fire was confined to the original unit and declared under control by 10:03 p.m. Ventilation operations followed using high-powered fans. A fire watch remains on site as investigators probe the cause.