Witness rescues woman from fatal house fire in Kanata
One person is dead after an early morning fire at a Kanata home, while the heroic actions of a passerby rescued a woman from the burning structure.
The Ottawa Police Arson Unit and the Office of the Fire Marshal are investigating the fire at a one-storey bungalow in the 200 block of Castlefrank Road, just off Glamorgan Drive, at approximately 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Travis Brown was driving to the gym from his Stittsville home early Tuesday morning when he saw smoke coming from the home and called 911.
"I banged on the door and tried to ring the door bell. I could hear the fire alarm going off," Brown tells CTV News Ottawa.
As he was on the phone with a 911 operator to report the fire, he saw an elderly woman in a bedroom.
"I yelled at her to say, 'your house is on fire," Brown said.
He removed the window and urged her to come to the window, but she said she had fallen and couldn't get up. The 29-year-old climbed into the home to rescue the woman.
"I hopped in and felt around for her, listened for her, grabbed her and pulled her to the window, pulled myself out and then lifted her out," Brown said, adding a bystander rushed over to help.
Ottawa Paramedics say a woman in her 90s was transported to hospital in stable condition with smoke inhalation.
Ottawa fire says firefighters conducting a search of the home after the fire had been brought under control located an individual inside the home. That person was pronounced dead at the scene.
The burned interior of a bungalow can be seen through the window of a home on Castlefrank Road in Kanata where one woman was heroically rescued, but sadly a person was found deceased on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Leah Larocque/CTV News Ottawa)
No other information has been released about the victim.
Ottawa fire says Brown reported "big flames and smoke from the house" during the 911 call.
A neighbour reported hearing a "weird noise" overnight.
"My doorbell camera showed a bright light, but it was black and white," Christine Hill told CTV News Ottawa.
"When I went out, all I saw was flames and smoke. I thought it was a tree on fire because it was so high."
Neighbours say the residents living in the home were kind.
"He was always out helping people with their driveways, snowplowed for the lady across the driveway all the time, always helping," Kenneth Logan said.
Ottawa's fire chief expressed condolences to the family of the victim.
"The Ottawa Fire Services extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of the occupant who succumbed to their injuries at this morning's fire on Castlefrank Road," Chief Paul Hutt said on Twitter. "Our sympathies are with them as they navigate this profound loss."
Brown says he did everything he could to help during the fire.
"Obviously happy to help," Brown said, adding he was assessed by paramedics at the scene. "You just wish you could have done more."
The Ottawa Police Arson Unit and the Office of the Fire Marshal are investigating a fatal fire on Castlefrank Road in Kanata.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.