Six Ottawa fires leave residents displaced and two pets dead

Ottawa fire officials are investigating six residential fires that broke out across the city over about 48 hours, leaving one resident seriously injured, several people displaced and two pets dead. The fires happened between Wednesday evening and early Friday morning and affected a range of buildings, including homes, townhouses, an apartment and a residential highrise. Ottawa Fire Services said there is no indication the incidents are connected, though some are still under investigation. In one highrise fire on McLeod Street, a resident was taken to hospital after smoke inhalation and is now in serious but stable condition, according to Ottawa EMS. A dog and a cat died in that apartment. Another man was hospitalized with serious burns after a townhome fire on Meadowbrook Road and is also in serious but stable condition. Officials said the incidents highlight the importance of working smoke alarms and home escape plans. They also noted that unattended cooking and improperly discarded smoking materials remain among the most common preventable causes of fires in Ottawa.