Ottawa firefighters made quick work of a car fire at the intersection of Baseline Road and Fisher Avenue Tuesday night, bringing the blaze under control in just three minutes and 41 seconds from the time crews arrived on scene.
What happened
The call came in at 10:32 p.m. after multiple 911 callers reported a vehicle fully engulfed in flames at the busy Nepean intersection. Ottawa Fire Services crews responded quickly, and once on scene they moved to knock down the flames before working to fully secure the vehicle.
After the initial fire was out, firefighters used the Jaws of Life, better known as a tool for extricating people from crashed vehicles, to pry open the hood so they could reach and cool the engine compartment. That step is a routine but important one in car fires, since a smouldering engine can reignite if it is not properly cooled down.
Why it matters for the area
Baseline and Fisher is a major crossing point for drivers moving between Nepean and the rest of the west end, and a car fire there at night has the potential to snarl traffic and draw a crowd of onlookers even at that hour. The fast response time meant the incident was resolved before it could turn into a bigger scene.
Ottawa Fire Services has not released the cause of the fire or confirmed whether anyone was inside the vehicle at the time. No injuries have been reported in connection with the incident.
Vehicle fires can start from a range of causes, including mechanical issues, electrical faults, or overheating components, and the Ottawa Fire Services investigates cause when warranted. Residents who witness a vehicle fire are reminded to keep a safe distance and call 911 immediately rather than attempting to intervene.
Source
This story is based on a video posted by @613trending on Instagram, which captured the response and noted the timeline of the call and the crews' arrival.
