Fire on Cambridge St., Part 2

Robin Kelsey — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 19:59:27 +0000

Today another blaze broke out at 160 Cambridge N., the same location as the fire on August 13. It’s right across the street from my house.

Police chased away the crowd, including this reporter from CTV. Watawa life was allowed to stay on his front porch.

The fire was out quickly. Here are some more pictures for the record.

That’s enough fires to last me a year. Tomorrow I’m going to post about a lucky cat. Bye for now!

Updated later on:

The bulldozer is here. That’s it for 160.

The smoking ruins.

I peered in the front door and took a picture. Doesn’t look so bad. Looks like you could just move in…

Fire on Cambridge St.

Robin Kelsey — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 04:22:01 +0000

Updated Aug.16: There has been another suspicious fire in Chinatown. See Fire at Somerset and Booth.

One of the five derelict houses on my street caught on fire tonight. Lots of fire trucks answered the call. Pretty exciting!

The fire was in an old house that’s set in behind the others, right next to Yangtze restaurant. Here are some firefighters and a ladder truck in the Yangtze parking lot.

The Yangtze kitchen staff came out to see what was going on. Were they ever surprised!

Action!

Here’s a firefighter going up the ladder.

Bunch of firefighters standing around… No! I’m sure they’re working. Everybody doesn’t have to go up the ladder.

Everyone from my street came rushing down to see the fire. Here they all are.

After a few hours they got the fire out. It was a very efficient operation, with maybe a little less adrenalin than most fires, because the house was known to be empty.

Here’s one more shot of a firefighter. He’s wondering when he gets to go up the ladder.

This morning.

Other than a few broken windows, the only sign of all the excitement is a bunch of discarded water bottles.

Update Aug.14: Here’s the Ottawa Citizen’s account of the fire, now called “suspicious.” (Peter Yeung is my landlord.)

Suspicious fire blankets street in smoke

Ciara Byrne
The Ottawa Citizen

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

A suspicious fire in an abandoned house clouded Cambridge Street North in smoke last night.

Fire crews arrived shortly after 9 p.m. Residents who gathered at the scene near Bronson and Gladstone avenues said the firefighters began tearing the roof apart using chain saws.

Neighbours said they could smell noxious fumes from blocks away.

“I smelled burning plastic, followed by burning wood. It was thick enough for us to close all our windows,” said Scott Holliday who watched behind yellow tape as firefighters cordoned off the area.

The fire started in an abandoned structure, which is one of a row of five along the block.

Last night, firefighters were tearing the building apart, ripping through drywall as the fire smouldered between the walls.

Fire Capt. Jim Bloom said the fire was considered suspicious.

Area residents said they were not surprised that something like this has happened.

Peter Young, who owns several properties on the street, said the houses have been abandoned since November.

“The houses are unsafe,” he said, adding he wants to see them torn down.

Watawa life » Fire on Cambridge St.

Fire on Cambridge St., Part 2

Fire on Cambridge St.

Suspicious fire blankets street in smoke