Early Morning Fire Displaces 15 Occupants
HAMILTON, ON – The Hamilton Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at REDFAN Convenience store located at 122 Queen Street South at approximately 4:00 a.m. this morning. This is a three storey building with a variety store on the first floor and three residential apartments occupying the basement, second and third floors.
First arriving crews reported heavy smoke showing in the store and basement area. A number of people including children were still in the building and could be seen at the windows on the second and third floors. The alarm was very quickly upgraded to a multiple alarm to bring additional apparatus and resources to the scene. Due to these circumstances, crews simultaneously initiated a rapid search and rescue on the upper floors and an aggressive interior attack in the basement and first floor. All of the 15 residents (5 adults and 10 children) were safely removed from the upper floors of the building.
The fire was quickly knocked down by firefighters, with fire damage confined to the basement and first floor with smoke damage throughout the remainder of the building.
Damage is estimated at approximately $200,000 and the cause is cooking related. There were no reported injuries to firefighters or civilians. Red Cross has been called to assist all of the tenants in finding alternate accommodations.
Cooking related fires continues to be one of the leading causes of fires in residential occupancies and Hamilton Fire would like to remind citizens to always use safe cooking practices.
For more information on fire safety, contact our Fire Prevention Division at 905 546-2424 ext. 1380, weekdays between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm or visit our web-site at www.hamilton.ca/fire.