Latest news with #JesseOshell
CTV News
22-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Drowning at Sudbury beach claims life of 24-year-old man
One man has drowned & another hospitalized after an inflatable kayak capsized at a Sudbury Beach. Officials stress lifejacket use at Drowning Prevention Week. Police, firefighters and paramedics rushed to Moonlight Beach, one of Greater Sudbury's most popular beaches, at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Saturday following reports of a drowning. A 24-year-old man tragically lost his life, while a 27-year-old man was transported to hospital in stable condition after a near-drowning incident. Moonlight Beach A lifeguard is shown on duty at Greater Sudbury's Moonlight Beach. July 21, 2025. (Madison Marier/CTV News Northern Ontario) Deputy Fire Chief Jesse Oshell commended the swift response of emergency crews, stating, 'They (firefighters) were at the beach with the boat in the water in just around eight minutes, and they had the best opportunity to get to the individuals, get our water rescuers into the water and help get those individuals out of the water.' He added, 'I know that we started performing lifesaving actions and got them transported to paramedic services who were there and waiting.' Timely dispatch and rescue efforts Oshell confirmed that fire services were alerted at approximately 5:30 p.m., dispatching one boat from the Long Lake area and another from the Moonlight water station to the scene. Despite the rapid response, the outcome, he told CTV News, was devastating. Greater Sudbury firefighter uniforms Greater Sudbury firefighter uniforms are hung at a fire hall in this undated photo. (Madison Marier/CTV News Northern Ontario) 'With a community such as ours, we have 330-plus beautiful lakes within our community, and we will respond to all of them,' Oshell said. 'Certainly, it is a matter of travel time to get to those lakes. That is why it is so important that individuals exercise caution.' Inflatable kayak capsizes 300 meters from shore Police reported that the two individuals were believed to be using an inflatable kayak when it capsized approximately 300 meters from shore. The 27-year-old man was alert and conscious when pulled from the water, but the 24-year-old was unconscious upon reaching shore. Firefighters immediately initiated lifesaving measures, but the young man was pronounced dead at the scene. Lifesaving Society warns of unintended drowning risks Stephanie Bakalar, a senior officer at the Lifesaving Society of Ontario, emphasized that many drownings occur unexpectedly. 'A lot of drownings actually happen when the person doesn't intend to get into the water,' she said. 'This could be a fall from the dock, or, you know, you're walking along the beaches and, it could be that you are boating and you're not wearing a life jacket.' Stephanie Bakalar An undate promotional profile picture of Stephanie Bakalar, a senior communications officer with the Lifesavin Society of Ontario. (File photo/Supplied/Town of Caledon) The tragic incident occurred just as the Lifesaving Society's National Drowning Prevention Week kicked off, an annual awareness event that runs from July 20 to July 26 this year. Importance of life jackets and swimming with others Bakalar highlighted common factors in drowning incidents, stating, 'We've seen a lot of drownings happening when people are swimming alone. A lot of people who aren't wearing life jackets when they're boating.' Echoing her concerns, Oshell noted, 'When fire services responds to some of these incidents, you know, one of the things that we see most common, especially around water rescue incidents, is those PFDs, those lifejackets, and they're not worn.' 'Safer Together': A call for vigilance Bakalar urged swimmers to take precautions, including wearing personal flotation devices (PFDs) and swimming with experienced companions. This aligns with this year's National Drowning Prevention Week theme, 'Safer Together.' 'Only 1% of drownings happen in lifeguard-supervised settings,' she said. 'So, this is by far the best place to swim.' Lifeguard at moonlight A lifeguard is shown on duty at Greater Sudbury's Moonlight Beach. July 21, 2025. (Madison Marier/CTV News Northern Ontario) Oshell acknowledged that Sudbury's natural bodies of water are generally safe but stressed the importance of vigilance. 'Taking precautions is very important,' he said.
CTV News
15-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Sudbury fire crews battle 2 early morning blazes
Two early morning fires kept Greater Sudbury firefighters busy on Friday, with one blaze causing significant damage to a multi-unit complex and another involving a propane tank explosion. Larch Street fire displaces residents At approximately 12:45 a.m., crews responded to reports of a structure fire on Larch Street with smoke and flames visible. Engine 1 and Reserve 1 from the downtown station arrived quickly, confirming a working fire. 'Crews stretched attack lines and had water application in under six minutes from time of dispatch,' the Sudbury Professional Fire Fighters (Local 527) said in a social media post. Due to the size of the building and fire progression, additional crews from Long Lake, Minnow Lake, New Sudbury, and Val Therese were called in. Off-shift staff were also brought in to assist. Multiple tenants were rescued and assessed by area paramedics. 'Fire crews rescued two from the building, with one sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries,' said Greater Sudbury Fire Services Deputy Chief Jesse Oshell in a brief telephone interview with CTV News. Officials said the fire caused an estimated $300,000 in damage, displacing three people from separate units. Temporary accommodations have been provided to those displaced. Oshell said fire officials suspect careless smoking was the cause of the blaze. Lebel Street saw a propane tank explosion At around 5:20 a.m., crews responded to reports of an explosion and fire at a home on Lebel Street in New Sudbury. Firefighters saw visible smoke while en route. 'Crews were able to contain the fire and prevent extension into the home,' the firefighters' union said. The blaze, which started on a deck and porch, involved a propane tank explosion from a barbecue. Oshell described the event as 'a small explosion – just to say' of a barbecue propane tank. The fire was relatively small and contained to the exterior of the home. No injuries were reported with this incident, and no damage estimate was completed at the home. Firefighters cleared the Larch Street scene just before 5 a.m., only for most to then respond to the Lebel Street call shortly after.
CTV News
15-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Smoke from Sudbury-area brush fire briefly shuts Highway 17
Traffic was blocked in both directions just outside Nairn Centre on Highway 17 due to a grass fire heading into the bush. Amateur footage shows the fire. Highway 17 was temporarily closed in the Whitefish area Saturday afternoon due to heavy smoke from a brush fire, authorities said. Greater Sudbury Fire Services Deputy Chief Jesse Oshell told CTV News in a brief telephone interview that the fire, near the intersection of St Pothier Road and Highway 17, was reported around 3 p.m. on June 14. 'The highway was closed due to smoke coming across the road and for firefighter safety since they were working on the roadway,' Oshell said. According to Ontario 511, the highway reopened shortly after 4 p.m. Oshell said crews were able to quickly contain the blaze without requiring assistance from the Ministry of Natural Resources. 'We did not require the assistance of MNR, thankfully, but we were able to get that fire surrounded and under control,' he said. 'Once we got resources on the fire, it was contained and put out.' Bush Fire - Sudbury - June 14 First responders battle a bush fire off Highway 17 near St Pothier Road in Greater Sudbury, Ont., on June 14, 2025. (Mikaela Gagné/Facebook) Firefighters from Lively and Whitefish, along with full-time crews from Greater Sudbury's city core, responded to the scene. The fire burned an area roughly the size of a football field, Oshell said, though its cause remains undetermined. No structures were damaged, and no injuries were reported. The wildland fire danger rating in the region is currently listed as 'high,' according to the latest MNR forest fire update.
CTV News
14-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Sudbury fire, police on the scene at Falconbridge smelter
Very few details are available, but emergency crews from Greater Sudbury were on the scene at the Glencore smelter in Falconbridge on Friday evening where molten material escaped from the furnace. Very few details are available, but emergency crews from Greater Sudbury were on the scene at the Glencore smelter in Falconbridge on Friday evening where molten material escaped from the furnace. Deputy fire chief Jesse Oshell said the situation has been contained and there is no threat to the public. No injuries have been reported, Oshell said, adding that fire crews were called to the scene around 6:40 p.m. Sudbury police have also confirmed they are on the scene assisting Glencore with the situation. No other information has been released and Glencore officials didn't immediately return messages Friday. This story will be updated when more information is available.
CBC
22-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Fire at old hospital in Sudbury deemed suspicious
Social Sharing A fire at an old building in Sudbury is being treated as suspicious. On Wednesday evening, fire crews were called to the old St. Joseph's Hospital building on Paris Street. A fire was burning on the second floor. "Crews worked for several hours to gain access to the property, get our tools, equipment and get water onto that fire as quickly as possible," deputy fire chief Jesse Oshell said. He said the fire was extinguished around 1:30 a.m. Thursday morning. As for the cause, Oshell said crews believe combustible materials left from a former movie production scene are to blame. "We suspect that it was that material that was on fire," he said. "We do feel that it is suspicious because the hospital is abandoned. There is no occupancy there for certain, and that material has been there for some time." Oshell said police have been notified about the fire. He added fire officials have also been in contact with Panoramic Properties, the owner of the building, as well as the city. "We want to make sure that it is still a safe structure to be there," he said. "We've shared those concerns with our partners in the city at building services who are experts at that and we'll see what the next steps are. We want to make sure that the building is sound at this point in time until such time as Panoramic is going to be doing something with it." Panoramic purchased the property in 2010 but little has been done with it since then. Last fall, the company said it is moving forward with plans to build housing on the site, but was unable to say when demolition of the building would take place.
