Ottawa Paramedics say nine people have been treated for smoke inhalation following a fire in an Ottawa Community Housing high rise apartment building in Lowertown. Three of them are children and one is a police officer.
All nine people were listed as stable upon their arrival in hospital.
Firefighters were called to 215 Wurtemburg Street, at the corner of Rideau Street, around 2:18 a.m. Wednesday. A second alarm was called before the fire was knocked down by 2:47 a.m.
Flames were visible from the window of a sixth floor apartment. Ottawa Paramedics say Ottawa Police were first on the scene, and helped evacuate residents of the building. Firefighters had to rescue one person using an aerial ladder.
Firefighters say there was heavy smoke throughout numerous floors.
Ottawa Fire crews rescued one person from the 6th floor at 215 Wurtemberg St. using Ladder 13's aerial ladder. pic.twitter.com/o7N7VuxZAr
— Scott Stilborn (@OFSFirePhoto) October 5, 2016
Residents were evacuated and sheltered in OC Transpo buses.
Ottawa Paramedics say smoke inhalation cases were the extent of the injuries, but they remained on scene well into the morning, citing a potential for more patients.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.