Four people, including an infant, were rescued from the roof of a burning house in Oakville overnight, and it was all caught on camera.
The fire chief says he is extremely proud of the actions of the women and men of the Oakville Fire Department.
As the garage of the townhouse became fully engulfed in flames, three people sat on the roof on the opposite side while a firefighter rescued an infant named Tamara by bringing her down a ladder.
The fire chief reports that the blaze appears to have started in the garage, but smoke quickly filled all levels of the townhouse.
Two people escaped immediately, while three other adults and the baby made their way to the second-level balcony. Overcome by smoke, they climbed onto the roof, where the baby was eventually handed over to safety.
Paul Boissonneault, Oakville Fire Chief, said, “Our crews did a phenomenal job. Our primary focus is always rescue, and when there are six people in a home, with two able to self-rescue and four requiring our assistance, our crews rose to the occasion.”
Isabelle Peterson, who lives across the street, described how relieved the baby’s mother felt upon hearing her daughter cry after the rescue, realizing she was safe.
Isabelle also mentioned that the mother went up to the third floor to reach her baby before they climbed to the roof. Both the mother and baby were taken to the hospital as a precaution for potential smoke inhalation, along with another man who was inside the home at the time.
Chief Boissonneault added, “There was one male patient who went to Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital with potential burns on his hands, presumably from trying to open the garage door when he encountered flames.”
Neighbors expressed their gratitude that everyone made it out safely and praised the Oakville Fire Department for their quick and effective response.
The fire chief emphasized his pride in the firefighters who not only rescued the family but also extinguished the fire before it could spread to neighboring units.
There’s no word yet on the cause of the fire or the extent of the damage, but an investigation is underway. The chief also reminded residents to check their smoke alarms regularly.