Firefighters Battle Two Blazes In Osgoode Ward
Firefighters were busy battling two blazes in the Osgoode Ward last week.
On Wed., Jan. 11, the Ottawa Fire Services Communications Division received multiple 911 calls reporting a tractor trailer on fire on Hwy 417 West at Boundary Road., close to the Amazon warehouse.
Upon arrival, it was confirmed that the trailer was on fire and that the tractor was unhitched and approximately 100 feet from the trailer. This area does not have hydrants, so a water shuttle system was set up to bring water in from a hydrant in Vars. The trailer was not carrying any dangerous materials but was fully stocked with wooden skids carrying a variety of items.
The fire was declared under control at 1:22 a.m. Firefighters worked all the way until 6 a.m. cutting holes in the trailer and placing a thermal imagining camera inside them to locate hot spots and extinguish them. At 4:50 a.m., fire crews were still emptying contents checking and extinguishing hot spots. Approximately, 10,000 gallons of water was used to extinguish the fire.
The highway was down to one lane until 11 a.m. while clean up crews attended the scene. From 6-11 a.m. a “fire watch” was set up and a fire crew remained on scene to monitor for any flare ups. There were no reported injuries.
Later in the day, firefighters were back at it battling a blaze at a home on Piperville Road near Anderson Road, near Anderson Links Golf Course.
The fire started close to 6:30 p.m. The person who called 9-1-1 confirmed that everyone was safely out of the building. By the time firefighters arrived at the home, the fire had spread to the roof and attic. Firefighters had to cut down trees to be able to access the attic.
Because there are no fire hydrants in the area, several tankers were called in to shuttle water to the scene, and the fire was declared under control by 9:30 p.m. Firefighters worked on a rotation, taking shelter in an OC Transpo bus between shifts
There were no injuries reported, though both occupants have been displaced as the home was destroyed.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
