Fire at hotel in downtown Ottawa
Black smoke coming from the 22nd floor of Les Suites Hotel on Besserer Street on Saturday. (Josh Pringle/CTV News Ottawa)
A fire in mattresses and couches on the top floor of Les Suites Hotel forced the evacuation of the downtown Ottawa hotel on Saturday afternoon.
It was the fifth fire for Ottawa firefighters to battle in 15 hours on the coldest Feb. 4 in 100 years.
Black smoke was seen billowing from the 22nd floor of the hotel on Besserer Street at approximately 4:10 p.m. Saturday.
Ottawa Fire Spokesperson Nicholas DeFazio says firefighters quickly made their way up to the 22nd floor of the hotel where they encountered "heavy smoke conditions".
Firefighters located mattresses and couches on fire in one of the units on the 22nd floor. The fire was declared under control at 4:40 p.m.
DeFazio says hotel staff told firefighters that floors 20, 21 and 22 are currently under construction. No one was located on the 22nd floor of the hotel.
OC Transpo buses provided shelter for the guests forced to evacuate the hotel.
Due to the water runoff, power has been disconnected to floors 16 to 22 while firefighters check all electrical closets.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Firefighters have also responded to fires on Kittiwake Drive in Stittsville, at an Algonquin College student residence, an apartment building on Daly Avenue and a home on Portland Avenue.
This is a developing story. CTV News Ottawa will have the latest as it becomes available
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