Three Displaced in Banff-Ledbury Townhouse Fire, Third Ottawa Blaze in 24 Hours
Ottawa firefighters responded swiftly to a smoky townhouse fire early Wednesday morning in the Banff-Ledbury neighbourhood, marking the third such incident in the city within a 24-hour period. The blaze, which occurred in a two-storey, middle-unit townhome on Ledbury Avenue, resulted in three residents being displaced but fortunately caused no injuries.
Emergency Response and Fire Details
Ottawa Fire Services received multiple 911 calls at approximately 9:47 a.m. reporting black smoke billowing from the residence. Callers indicated that the entire kitchen was engulfed in flames, but all occupants had safely evacuated before firefighters arrived on the scene just four minutes after being dispatched.
Fire crews confirmed smoke and flames coming from the front of the home and immediately initiated a fast attack strategy, advancing a hose line into the building. Additional crews verified that all residents had evacuated safely and checked that the flames had not spread to attic spaces.
Containment and Aftermath
By 10:05 a.m., all visible flames on the first floor had been extinguished, and the fire was officially declared under control at 10:25 a.m. Firefighters used high-pressure fans to remove residual smoke from the structure. One fire truck remained on site to monitor for potential flare-ups while an investigator was dispatched to determine the cause of the blaze.
The affected residence is part of the Banff-Ledbury Ottawa Community Housing community, according to River ward Councillor Riley Brockington. The fire was contained to the single unit, and victim services were dispatched to assist the displaced residents—one adult and two children.
Context of Recent Fire Incidents
This incident represents the third fire in Ottawa within less than 24 hours, highlighting a concerning pattern of residential blazes in the area. While the previous fires occurred at different locations, this Banff-Ledbury incident shares the fortunate outcome of no injuries despite significant property damage and displacement.
Ottawa Fire Services continues to investigate all three incidents to determine causes and potential connections, while emphasizing the importance of fire safety measures in residential properties throughout the city.
