Ottawa Fire Services responded to a significant high-rise apartment fire early Friday morning, September 18, 2026, after firefighters received reports of people trapped inside the building.
The fire was reported around 2:33 a.m. in the 200 block of Donald Street in Ottawa’s Overbrook community. According to current local reporting, the first call came from a monitoring agency reporting active alarms before residents began calling 911 to say they were unable to leave their apartments.
Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | September 18, 2026 |
| Location | 200 block of Donald Street, Overbrook, Ottawa |
| Type | High-rise apartment fire |
| Fire Location | Eighth-floor apartment |
| Emergency Response | Ottawa Fire Services |
| Alarm Level | Second alarm |
| Aerial Apparatus | Two aerial ladders |
| Cause | Under investigation |
| Injuries | No confirmed injuries reported in the available report |
| Displacement | Multiple residents expected to be displaced |
Firefighters encountered heavy smoke and flames coming from an apartment on the eighth floor. Because several residents needed assistance leaving the building, a second alarm was called to bring additional resources to the scene, including support for potential balcony rescues.
Two aerial ladders were positioned near the rear of the building. Firefighters eventually entered the affected apartment with a hose and confirmed that no one remained inside the unit. Several e-bikes were found burning, and officials said they intensified the fire.
The blaze was contained by approximately 3:22 a.m., preventing it from spreading to other apartments. Firefighters then carried out extensive ventilation to clear smoke from the affected floor of the 22-storey building.
Multiple residents are expected to be displaced as a result of the fire. An Ottawa fire investigator remained at the scene to determine how the blaze started.
The investigation into the cause remains ongoing, and additional information may be released as officials complete their assessment.