Several residents had to be rescued after a morning fire broke out at an apartment building in Lindsay on Friday.
Crews were called to the apartment building on Angeline Street South around 6:30 a.m. and discovered flames coming from a third-floor unit.
Up to 30 firefighters from three stations responded to the blaze.
Ron Raymer, Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service deputy fire chief, tells CHEX News they had to rescue three people using a ladder at the rear of the building.
Raymer added two people lived in the apartment unit where the fire broke out. They got out safely and called 911.
The 54 tenants from 48 units have been evacuated and relocated to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints just across the street. It’s expected they will be displaced for several days.
Among them was Charlotte Stewart who said she discovered her mattress was on fire and tried to extinguish it but the fire spread.
She thanked firefighters for the prompt response.
“Normally I have white hair but today it’s grey from all the smoke but I’ll have good shower and it will be back to being beautiful like it used to be,” she joked while travelling in a bus to a friend’s house.
“Everyone got out without any incident. Plus the firefighters went back in and retrieved pets and medications. We’ve all been well looked after and everyone is safe and sound.”
Angeline Street remains closed at Kent and Durham streets.
The cause of the fire is not yet known but officials suspect it may be electrical in nature, Raymer said.
The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal has been contacted as damage is estimated to be more than $500,000.
More to come.