Three-alarm fire damages three townhomes, displaces 16 residents in Nepean

Three townhouses have been damaged, displacing 16 residents following a fire that broke out in a home in a six-townhouse complex Friday morning in Nepean, according to the Ottawa Fire Services.

Ottawa City Councillor Sean Devine said on X "thankfully no injuries (were reported), but 16 residents were displaced" from Ottawa Community Housing "in Ward 9 as a result of this fire."

Firefighters say they received multiple calls at around 2:48 a.m. reporting flames coming from the roof of a townhouse complex in the 100 block of Chesterton Drive.

Still image from video from a neighbour on Chesterton Drive shows the massive blaze that displaced 16 people and damaged 3 homes no Aug. 30, 2024. (Courtesy: Ottawa Fire Services)

When firefighters arrived on the scene and saw the flames, they declared a second alarm followed by a third one, requesting additional resources. Then, they started extinguishing the fire by advancing multiple hose lines.

"Firefighters were conducting fire operations in the townhome where the fire started and the two attached townhomes on both sides as well," said the fire service in a news release Friday. "Walls and ceilings were opened up to extinguish the flames that has spread into the attached homes."

Three townhouses have been damaged, displacing multiple residents following a fire that broke out in a home in a six-townhouse complex Friday morning in Nepean. (Scott Stilborn/ Ottawa Fire Services)

Firefighters were able to stop the spread of the fire into the entire complex. Only the two adjacent ones were damaged.

Crews then searched the three damaged units and did not find occupants inside.

Three townhouses have been damaged, displacing multiple residents following a fire that broke out in a home in a six-townhouse complex Friday morning in Nepean. (Scott Stilborn/ Ottawa Fire Services)

The fire was declared under control just before 4:30 a.m.

Firefighters remained on the scene monitoring for hot spots.

Mike Rushton, from the office of the Fire Marshall confirmed that there was an explosion at the property, noting that the cause of the fire is still unclear.

"There was both an explosion and a fire occuring at that time," Rushton said.

The city's fire department also confirmed to CTV News Ottawa that there was a fire on Aug. 28, 2023 in Unit D -- at the same complex. The cause of that fire was arson.

Friday's fire was in unit E.

On Saturday, an Ottawa Fire investigator found a missing cat inside the basement of unit E. The cat has been safely reunited with its family.

An investigation into what led to the fire it is ongoing.

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) told CTV News in a statement Friday, "all fires are treated as suspicious until deemed otherwise, as such at this time, this fire has been deemed suspicious."

"OPS is working collaboratively with partners including the Ottawa Fire Service and the Office of the Fire Marshal to determine cause(s). Once cause is determined, the appropriate actions are taken, which may include a criminal investigation," reads the statement.

Anyone with doorbell, dash cam or video surveillance footage of the 1-100 block of Chesterton Drive between the hours of midnight and 3 a.m. is asked to call police at 613-236-1222, extension 2202.

With files from CTV News Ottawa's Natalie van Rooy

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