Kitchener Fire believes woman was living underneath building that caught fire
As temperatures take a tumble, those living unhoused are seeking shelter wherever they can to keep warm – but it’s not always safe.
Fire crews were called to a building on St. Leger Street in Kitchener Wednesday morning, where it’s believed a woman was living underneath.
Fire officials say her heating source may have caused the fire, and although she wasn’t there when crews made it inside, there are worries she may be hurt.
“There was a report of a female occupant,” Kitchener fire prevention officer Tom Ruggle said. “We were unable to find her onsite, but we suspect the cause of the fire was probably related to heating.”
Seven trucks responded to the fire at 216 St. Leger Street. The call came in at 5:20 a.m. When firefighters arrived, the back side of the building was engulfed in smoke and flames.
Fire officials say they were aware of reports that people might be living underneath the building, so they approached the fire accordingly.
“Crews had to cut a trench at the top of the building to stop the flame and smoke from migrating to the other side of the building to minimize damage,” said Patrick O’Halloran, the assistant platoon chief with Kitchener Fire.
Kitchener Fire said this isn’t the first case like this across the city.
“We had somewhere between 15 to 20 fires that were tied to folks either living rough or in encampments,” Ruggle said.
One of the most recent incidents was at an encampment in late December at Weber and Victoria Streets in Kitchener – deemed an accident.
Last week, an encampment fire near Cambridge shut down a part of Highway 401.
In the case on St Leger Street, the property owner says the building has been vacant for more than a decade.
He said although it's a lot to take in, he understands that people are simply trying to seek shelter from the cold.
“I’m sure they didn’t mean to do it, but they’ve caused me lots of damage,” said owner Ed McColough.
To prevent similar incidents from happening again, the fire prevention officer suggests those who are homeless make sure their heating sources are safe. He said their team tries to do outreach and provide safer alternatives whenever possible.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.