A massive four alarm blaze at an apartment complex in Nepean has displaced dozens of residents from their homes.
The fire happened at a three-storey, wood frame apartment building on Deerfield Dr. around 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The Ontario Fire Marshal is currently investigating the multi-million dollar blaze, which caused extensive damage to the building and its contents.
"The fire got into the attic space right away and straight through the building. pretty much the entire top and really half the building have pretty bad burn damage," said Chief Rod Fleck of the Ottawa Fire Services.
Kara Kroeger was dog sitting when she learned that the apartment she's been living in for the last year had gone up in flames.
"I wasn't prepared to see it when I was driving up," she said. "Then I started to cry in the car. I wasn't prepared for it."
Kroeger is among the 75 residents who have been temporarily displaced from their homes.
"Thankfully I've got a few days’ worth of clothes at my mom's place," she said.
Nobody was injured in the blaze.
Among the 75 people who have been displaced, most are students at nearby Algonquin College.
Minto, the building's owner, is housing about 10 residents in other Minto units. Algonquin is housing at least 20 students in vacated residence rooms, while the remainder of the residents are staying with family and friends.
"We've received students who have virtually nothing left other than the clothes on their back, and then other students who have been affected by fire or water damage," said Doug Wotherspoon of Algonquin College.
Residents requiring assistance may contact the Minto Office on-site at10 Deerfield Dr. or by calling 613-225-0493. They can also call the Red Cross at 1-855-797-8875 for support services, or reach Algonquin College at 613-727-7698.
