Ottawa's Professional Firefighters' Association is questioning the response to a fatal blaze in the city's west end that claimed the life of a two-year-old boy.

Fatuma Hersi and her seven children were in their Caldwell Avenue town home when the blaze broke out around 7:30 p.m. Monday. Abdi Ali, the children's father, was at work at the time of the blaze.

The firefighters' association says two front-line rigs weren't in service at the time of the fire, including the closest ladder truck in the area.

Fire Chief Kim Ayotte of the Ottawa Fire Department, however, says the department's response to the blaze was not compromised.

"There were several ladder trucks here. I think perhaps the ladder getting into the actual scene is the difficulty, not getting it to the scene," Ayotte told CTV News.

A mother's cry for help

The blaze ripped through the two-storey town home like an inferno Monday, damaging eight units in the complex and leaving 35 people homeless.

Neighbours told CTV News they heard Hersi's frantic pleas to help save her youngest child who was trapped inside while the home went up in flames.

Family friends have identified the deceased toddler as Khalid Ali. None of the other family members were injured in the fire.

"I can't imagine losing my kids. I can't imagine what this mom is going through," said neighbour Laura Cochran.

"It just went up in like, I don't know, seconds," said Kim Simon, another neighbour.

Trying to determine a cause

Fire officials and police were still on the scene Tuesday afternoon as they continued to work to determine the cause of the blaze.

Officials say they believe the fire started on the main floor. By midday, they were still trying to conclude whether or not the home was equipped with smoke detectors.

A neighbour, however, told CTV News she heard a smoke detector going off while the fire was underway.

Nearly 50 fire officials from several crews helped battle the four-alarm blaze. One firefighter and one police officer were brought to the hospital and treated for minor smoke inhalation.

Neighbours help fight fire

Before police and firefighters arrived on scene, nearby residents did their part to help battle the blaze.

"I hung up with 911, ran out and there was another gentleman - he had a fire extinguisher and he broke the window and we put out some of the fire but we couldn't put enough out to go in the house," Tammy Guigue told CTV News. "We were going to go in the house but then the policemen came and said we weren't allowed."

Family to bury son immediately

The Ali family came to Canada from Somalia 17 years ago and is currently getting support from the Somali Centre for Family Services.

Keeping in tune with Islamic traditions, the family is planning to bury their son Wednesday.

"It's a big loss for us but it's out of our control and we accept whatever God decides," said Abdirizak Warsame, a member of the Ali-Hersi's extended family.

"On behalf of Mr. Abdi Ali, my best friend, he's a different person today," said family friend Osman Omar. "He's very sad, he lost everything. He lost his child; he lost all his savings; all the house, everything. I think God will help him and he needs help from the community."

Community efforts to help family

There are currently several efforts underway to help the family cope with their loss.

Those willing to help can drop off donations at the following locations:

  • Cash and clothing can be dropped off at Carlington Community and Health Services at 900 Merivale Rd.
  • Clothing can be dropped off at The Stronghold at 102-1465 Caldwell Ave.
  • To co-ordinate furniture donations, residents are asked to call Sister Lorena at the Family House at 613-728-1268.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Joanne Schnurr