Fire ravaged a three-storey Florence Street home, causing $275,000 in damage and closing the street between Kent and Lyon until midnight on Wednesday.
It took 15 fire trucks and approximately 45 Ottawa firefighters to contain the blaze at 83 Florence St.
Firefighters received a call just after 6:30 p.m. and were on the scene within 10 minutes. Although the fire was doused by approximately 7:45 p.m., firefighters continued to work on the attic to ensure the insulation didn’t smolder and catch fire again.
Ottawa Police Const. J.P. Vincette said the fire appears to have started in the attic, and foul play or arson are not suspected. Florence Street was closed for approximately five hours while firefighters battled the flames, Vincette said.
“We received a call at about 7 p.m. and were cleared by shortly after midnight,” Vincette said.
Five people live in the house but only one person, who left the house unharmed, was home at the time. Vincette verified that no one was injured in the fire.
District Fire Chief Jim Bloom said it could take a month before the residents can move back into their home, which he describes as an old, beautiful brick house.
“They had to basically cut the roof off,” Bloom said.
“The house is gutted.”