Careless smoking blamed for high-rise fire in downtown Hamilton

Careless smoking is being blamed for a multi-alarm fire at a high-rise apartment building in downtown Hamilton.

Shortly after 7 a.m. Thursday, June 21, fire crews were called to 200 Bay Street South, where there was a fire in a 4th-floor unit.

A multiple-alarm response was then initiated to bring additional fire crews to the scene to assist in suppression operations.

Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control and were able to limit fire damage to the one-apartment unit.

The two occupants who had been in the apartment were able to evacuate and were assessed by paramedics at the scene.

Crews immediately started ventilation procedures in order to clear the building of smoke, and all residents of the building have returned to their apartment units, except for the fire unit. The Red Cross has been called to assist those tenants in finding alternate accommodations.

Damage is estimated at approximately $50,000 and the suspected cause of the fire is careless smoking.

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The Hamilton Fire Department would like to remind citizens that careless use of and disposal of smoker’s materials is consistently one of the leading causes of fires in the City of Hamilton, so please make sure to completely extinguish and dispose of cigarettes safely.

For more information on fire safety, contact the Fire Prevention Division at 905-546-2424 ext. 1380, weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or visit our website at hamilton.ca/fire