Fire alarm tests at a Richmond Road highrise on Tuesday turned into the real thing just past noon.
“They were testing the fire alarms today, and it was beeping all day,” said Jen Murray, 30, who lives on the fourth floor of the building at 465 Richmond Rd.
But Murray said her mother immediately knew when things were amiss around 12:20 p.m.
“All of a sudden they just came on and said, ‘This is not a joke,'” said Murray, whose mother grabbed the dog and left the building to wait outside with other residents.
Residents wait outside on Tuesday while Ottawa firefighters respond to a two-alarm fire at 465 Richmond Road.
Ottawa firefighters, alerted by a number of 911 calls reporting flames and black smoke, arrived to find what appeared to be a dangerous blaze in a 14th floor unit and called in a second alarm. Fifteen trucks were initially called to the fire.
“It’s easier to bring them in early, then send them home,” said Fire Capt. Tim Orton, adding that highrise apartment fires are harder to contain than house fires.
Ottawa firefighters respond to a two-alarm fire at 465 Richmond Road.
The fire was quickly brought under control and personnel remained on the scene as a precaution until about 2 p.m. Residents not living on the 14th floor were able to return to their apartments.
There were no injuries.
The cause of the fire was under investigation. No estimate of damage was available.
