Latest news with #OttawaFire
CTV News
6 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
‘We can't get complacent:' Eastern Ontario fire crews urge caution amid hot, dry weather
Fire officials says the hot and dry conditions are creating an extreme wildfire risk in regions across eastern Ontario. CTV's Austin Lee reports. As fire crews continues to battle flames tearing through parts of Ontario's cottage country, officials in and around Ottawa are urging residents to be extra cautious. 'Everybody needs to take these extreme heat conditions very seriously. We can't get complacent. We need to be very careful,' said Ottawa Fire Chief Paul Hutt. 'We can't have accidental fires, so I need everybody to be very diligent in making sure they're looking after their surroundings, making sure they're not causing any source of ignition that could potentially spark a grass fire or a bush fire.' Ottawa, much of eastern Ontario and parts of western Quebec are currently seeing 'extreme fire danger,' according to Natural Resources Canada. Canada Fire Map A map showing the fire danger across Canada. Much of eastern Ontario and western Quebec are seeing "extreme fire danger." (Natural Resources Canada) Burn bans are in place across the region, but fire officials say the risk extends beyond simply starting a campfire. 'We also want [people] to take extreme caution with some of the exercises that they're doing outside with any sources of heat or ignition,' said Justin Hemsley, Deputy Fire Chief with the Mississippi Mills Fire Department. 'Cigarette butts can be a huge risk factor, small engines, hot engines, lawnmowers, those kinds of things can easily spark a fire when things are this dry.' Mississippi Mills Fire A firetruck inside a Mississippi Mills fire station on Aug. 12, 2025. Officials are urging residents to stay extra cautious during wildfire season. (Austin Lee/CTV News Ottawa) In Ottawa, a fire ban has been in place since last week. Hutt says most people are following the rules, but not everyone. 'We have had 26 complaints for burn complaints since the fire ban. I consider that quite large. We shouldn't have any,' he said. 'We are taking a zero approach so if there are issues and people are still burning while we're in this fire ban, we will be taking the matters very, very seriously and applying the bylaw accordingly.' If things take a turn for the worse and Ottawa fire crews are called out to battle a wildfire, Hutt says his team is ready. Since amalgamation, Ottawa Fire Services is responsible for a large area, roughly 80 per cent of which is rural land. The fire service currently has five specialized brush trucks, designed specifically for fighting wildfires, in its fleet. 'We can't get complacent ourselves so, in the rural areas, we're constantly checking water levels, we're making sure our water fill sites are available,' said Hutt. 'In the event that there is a fire, if we have to come up with alternative plans or if we have to shuttle water in, we pre-plan these scenarios based on weather conditions and I feel we are very equipped to handle situations if they arise.' As for when the burn ban could be lifted, that may take some time. Temperatures will have to cool off and the region will need to see significant rain, enough to saturate the soil, for wildfire risks to subside. 'If it's just surface rain or if it's just a small shower, it's not going to be enough because the surface is just going to dry up again and we're just going to be left with all of this dryness again,' said Hutt. 'People are going to have to be very patient, and even though we have a little bit of rain in the forecast, the fire ban still may remain on.' In the meantime, homeowners can take a few steps to prevent fire damage around their property. Hutt recommends clearing any vegetation and debris piled up near any structures, cleaning gutters of leaves, pine needles and other flammable material, and if you keep firewood, ensure it is stored at least ten to 30 metres away from your home.
CTV News
06-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Ottawa firefighters battle 3-alarm fire in the Glebe
An Ottawa Fire Services investigation vehicle at the scene of a fire. (CTV News Ottawa) Ottawa firefighters were called to a three-alarm fire that damaged several homes in the Glebe neighbourhood Saturday evening. In a news release, the Ottawa Fire Services say multiple 911 callers reported a 'big fire' impacting a single-family home in the 100 block of Fourth Avenue near Bank Street at approximately 10:37 p.m. On scene, crews found flames coming from the roof and the back of the home with 'multiple' other houses on fire. Firefighters dispatched additional resources to the scene. A second and third alarm was quickly called in. Ottawa fire says crews had to deal with several hazards, including live hydro lines. The Ottawa Paramedic Service says it had multiple first responders sent to the area. A woman in her 60s was transported to hospital by ambulance in stable condition, paramedics say. The fire was declared under control at about 11:10 p.m. Ottawa Victim Services was called in to provide assistance for displaced residents. The cause of the fire remains unclear. An investigation is underway.
CTV News
05-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Ottawa firefighters battle overnight garage fire in Richmond
The aftermath of a garage fire in the community of Richmond in Ottawa on July 5, 2025. (Andrew Adlington/CTV News Ottawa) Ottawa firefighters were called to a garage engulfed in flames in the community of Richmond overnight. In a news release, the Ottawa Fire Services say they received multiple 911 callers reporting a house on fire in the 500 block of Filly Terrace near Meynell Road at approximately 3:46 a.m. Saturday. On arrival, crews found the garage of the single-family home was 'fully involved' and dispatched additional resources to the scene. Firefighters began a 'fast attack' on the flames and advanced a hose line inside the home. Ottawa fire says crews were able to extinguish and contain the flames to their area of origin before they could spread to other parts of the home or other structures nearby. The fire was declared under control at 4:17 a.m. The Ottawa Paramedic Service responded to the scene but did not report any injuries. Ottawa Victim Services, which provides support for displaced residents, was sent to the scene. The cause of the fire is unclear.
CTV News
23-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Skydiver rescued after crash landing in trees near Arnprior
A skydiver was taken to hospital after crash landing in a wooded area near Arnprior Monday morning. The Ottawa Fire Services say they received a call reporting a skydiver landing near the intersection of Upper Dwyer Hill and Ottawa Road 29 just south of Highway 417 at approximately 10:45 a.m. Firefighters arriving on scene required chainsaws to cut through the heavily forested area to get to the person, the fire service said in a news release. Brush trucks and utility-terrain vehicles (UTV) were also sent to the area. Ottawa paramedics say they treated an adult woman for non-life-threatening injuries. Ottawa fire says she was conscious and alert but had suffered multiple fractures. 'Firefighters and Paramedics loaded the patient onto a stokes basket prior to bringing them out to the road to be transported to hospital,' Ottawa fire says. The woman was safely brought out and loaded into an ambulance over an hour after crews were notified of the crash. A firefighter had to be assessed by paramedics after the rescue for heat exhaustion with temperatures in Ottawa soaring into the mid-30s on Monday. The firefighter was released at the scene. The cause of the crash remains unclear.
