A 95-year-old woman has died following a fire at an apartment building in Niagara Falls that also forced roughly 20 residents from their homes.
Fire crews were called to the building on Drummond Road around 7:52 p.m. Monday, where they encountered intense heat and thick smoke coming from the second floor, according to Fire Chief Jo Zambito.
Firefighters located the elderly woman in a hallway inside the building and rushed her to hospital in critical condition. Niagara police later confirmed she died from her injuries.
Officials said one second-floor apartment was fully engulfed in flames when crews arrived, but firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control quickly.
The fire affected units on multiple floors of the building, leaving about 20 residents displaced. The Canadian Red Cross has been assisting those impacted with temporary accommodations.
Police said the fire remains under investigation, though there is currently no indication of criminal activity. Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal has also been notified as authorities continue to examine the cause and assess the extent of the damage.