Senior dies of accidents from hearth at west finish seniors’ residence

Article content material

A 69-year-old man who gave the impression to be regaining his well being after a struggle with most cancers died from accidents after a Friday evening hearth at his Kanata residence. 

Belinda Demers, who lives within the Ottawa Group Housing seniors’ residence on Penfield Drive, mentioned the person she knew as Donny was a “happy-go-lucky” fellow who appreciated to prepare dinner and, earlier than he was recognized with most cancers, used to experience his bicycle across the neighbourhood.

Article content material

Article content material

He lived throughout the corridor from her. 

On Friday, Demers shut off her TV shortly after 11 p.m., mentioned a prayer for her sister and was virtually asleep when she was woke up by the startling sound of an activated smoke detector. She rapidly realized it was a smoke detector within the hallway, not in her unit. When she opened the door, she noticed smoke coming from a unit throughout the corridor. 

“What ought to we do? Go bang on his door or what?” she puzzled moments earlier than emergency providers arrived. A crew from Ottawa Fireplace Station No. 42, positioned lower than 200 metres from the two-storey row of homes, was on the scene inside minutes. 

For its half, Ottawa Fireplace Companies mentioned it obtained a name at 11:19 p.m., when an alarm firm reported energetic hearth alarms within the constructing.

Firefighters arriving on the scene confirmed smoke within the first-floor hallway of the residence and had been in a position to determine the “hearth unit,” the place they positioned a person who was “very important indicators absent.”

That individual was introduced exterior and firefighters started emergency therapy. 

“Firefighters performing CPR had been in a position to get a pulse again and the sufferer started respiration once more,” OFS mentioned in a message on X, previously Twitter. 

Article content material

Paramedics then transferred the affected person to hospital, however Ottawa police later confirmed the sufferer had “succumbed to their accidents.”

Earlier than realizing the hearth was contained, Demers grabbed a coat and rushed exterior. An OC Transpo bus was stationed there for residents to maintain heat, together with an additional ambulance. As a substitute of boarding the bus, Demers determined to re-enter the constructing to cope with the smoke. She opened home windows, began followers working and put a blanket alongside the underside of her hallway door.

She mentioned Donny had lived within the residence for nearly 10 years, about 9 months longer than her, initially in a second-floor unit. In one in every of their first interactions, he supplied her a few of his home-made soup. 

“I knew him, however not likely good,” she mentioned. “We mentioned, ‘Hello,’ and talked. He mentioned he made actually good soup and he introduced me down a dish with some.” 

Demers mentioned her neighbour was recognized with most cancers a few yr and a half in the past and had been away from residence for a number of months whereas present process therapy. He give up smoking after he was recognized. 

Upon his return, he requested a transfer to the primary flooring so he wouldn’t have to make use of the steps. He had been dwelling within the ground-floor unit for a few month, Demers added. 

Article content material

“He was a nice individual to speak to. It’s unhappy he handed,” she mentioned. “After getting most cancers, you by no means know, however he wasn’t in ache proper now. He seemed higher, more healthy, when he obtained again, and I mentioned that to him.”

Ottawa Group Housing posted a message concerning the tragedy on X: “We want to categorical our deepest condolences to the household and pals who misplaced a liked one within the hearth incident at 231 Penfield Dr. The security of our tenants stays our prime precedence. Thanks @OttFire for his or her onerous work and help.”

The provincial hearth marshal’s workplace will lead the investigation into the reason for the hearth, assisted by an Ottawa Fireplace Companies investigator and the Ottawa Police Service arson unit. 

Our web site is your vacation spot for up-to-the-minute information, so make sure that to bookmark our homepage and join our newsletters so we will preserve you knowledgeable.

Article content material