Two families have been displaced after separate fires in Ottawa's south end.
In Manotick, a massive blaze ripped through the home at 5832 Longhearth Way. Firefighters arrived on scene just after 6:15 after receiving multiple calls about a house on fire. Upon arrival, the structure was completely engulfed in flames.
"When I got here, the fire was through the roof," says District Fire Chief Paul Fortin. "There was no roof left. And we've been fighting a defensive attack since then."
Witnesses say the owner of the house was at Costco when the fire broke out. No one was injured. Fortin estimates the house being worth at least $1 million and calls it a total loss. The Red Cross was at the scene with blankets and caring for the affected family.
Both regular and volunteer firefighters were on hand to help contain the fire. Fortin says at one point, there were over 30 firefighters battling the blaze. A fire investigator is on scene, but there's no word on what caused the fire.
Firefighters were also called to a house in Barrhaven after reports of a garage on fire. Witnesses say the fire spread very quickly from the garage to the roof of 26 Summerwind Crescent. No one was injured.
One witness says a mother and daughter lived in the house and both escaped. There's no indication of what started the blaze or how much damage was done.
