Man dead after fire at west Ottawa seniors' residence

One person has died aftera fire at an Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) seniors' residencein Kanata.

Emergency crews were called to the building on Penfield Drivejust before 11:30 p.m. on Friday, a spokesperson for Ottawa Fire Services said.

When firefighters arrived, they encountered smoke on the first floor of the two-storey building.

Theyrescued one person, performed CPR and were able to restore his pulse and get him breathing again, according to the fire service.

"They tried to bring him back," said Belinda Demers, who lives across the hallway from the man's apartment. She had gone outsidefeeling like "a pile of nerves" when the fire alarm went off.

Paramedics said they took theman, who had severe burns,to the hospital. He later died of his injuries.

Fire marshal investigating

In an emailed statement, OCHsaid its thoughts arewith the family and the loved ones of the person who diedas well as residents of the building.

Demers said the man kept to himself but once offered her homemade soup.

The fire was "scary because it's so close," she said.

"And it's sad. It's very sad that he passed."

Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the unit where it started and residents were allowed back inside the building.

The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) is now leading the investigation, withhelp from fire and police services. The OFM typically investigateswhen a fire proves fatal.