The resident of a Constance Bay home jumped from a second-floor balcony to safety as a fire burned inside the home.
The Ottawa Fire Services said 9-1-1 received multiple calls at approximately 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, reporting a fire in a single-family home on Charmont Way. The callers reported a resident was trapped on a balcony.
“Upon arrival, firefighters confirmed the front of the home was fully engulfed in smoke and flames and the resident who was trapped on the second-floor balcony had jumped off to escape,” Ottawa Fire Services spokesperson Nick DeFazio said.
“Another resident confirmed everyone has evacuated the home.”
Because the fire was in an area of the city with no hydrants, firefighters established a water shuttle system using tanker trucks to bring water to the scene.
“Firefighters advanced multiple hose lines towards the home. An aerial ladder was set up at the scene to attack the fire from above,” DeFazio said.
As firefighters were battling the fire, there was a partial structural collapse of the home, and firefighters were ordered to evacuate out of the structure.
The fire was declared under control at 12:15 a.m.
One resident of the home was treated for minor burns they suffered while trying to extinguish the fire.
DeFazio said one of three cats inside the home died from their injuries, and one cat is still missing. Another cat was rescued from the home and brought to safety.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.