An elderly woman was rescued by Ottawa firefighters during a basement fire at a townhome in the city’s south end Sunday morning.
Ottawa Fire Services responded to multiple emergency calls at approximately 10:40 a.m. after heavy black smoke was seen coming from the rear of a two-storey townhome in the 1400 block of Heatherington Road, near Albion Road North.
Firefighters navigating near-zero visibility inside the home found the woman on the second floor and brought her to safety. She was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital with smoke inhalation injuries. She was reported to be in serious but stable condition, with non-life-threatening injuries.
The fire was contained to the residence, preventing it from spreading to the upper floors or neighbouring homes. Crews extinguished the blaze shortly before 11:10 a.m.
Two adults who lived in the home will be displaced as a result of the damage. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.