4 people, several pets displaced by fire in Old Ottawa East - CBC

Firefighters declared the fire at a home on Herridge Street under control by 8:46 a.m. Thursday, about 20 minutes after receiving the first 911 calls. (Ottawa Fire Services)Social SharingFour adults and several pets were displaced when a fire broke out in the basement of a home in Old Ottawa East on Thursday morning, Ottawa firefighters said.

Ottawa Fire Services received several 911 calls around 8:25 a.m. reporting smoke coming from the basement windows of a two-storey home on Herridge Street.

Witnesses said residents had escaped the home, which is divided into two apartments, and were trying to get several pets to safety.

Firefighters arrived within four minutes and were able to contain and extinguish the flames before they could spread to the rest of the home. By 8:46 a.m., the fire was declared under control. 

A search confirmed all residents and pets had made it out. One resident suffered smoke inhalation and was treated by paramedics.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Massimo Manini-Paquette has joined the local Ottawa team as the news and digital intern. He is a fourth-year journalism student at Carleton University. Massimo has a strong passion for local news and in-depth reporting, and his writing has appeared in publications such as The Financial Post and Capital Current.