Barrhaven fire leaves over a dozen homeless

Fifteen people have been displaced after a fire destroyed one home and severely damaged another two on Thursday afternoon in Barrhaven.

According to Ottawa Fire Services, dispatchers received multiple 911 calls at 4:44 p.m. reporting heavy smoke coming from the back deck of an end-unit townhome on Claridge Drive.

Heavy smoke was visible from a distance and with information given over the radio, fire crews declared a working fire at 4:47 p.m.

Upon arrival, a second alarm was declared as the fire had spread to the house. Photos from the scene show the fire was hot enough to melt the siding on the homes.

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According to fire investigators, three homes have been deemed uninhabitable and damage has been estimated at $1 million. There were no injuries to firefighters or residents but one of the homeowners lost at least one cat and three others are unaccounted for.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help raise money for the family who lost their cats and all of their possessions.