Christmas night apartment fire cause was accidental
By Erica Bajer, Standard Staff
Dec 25, 2011
The cause of a Christmas night high-rise fire that displaced nearly a dozen people for the holidays has been ruled accidental.
The Ontario Fire Marshal's Office completed its investigation Tuesday into the Dec. 25 blaze at 16 Tremont Dr. in St. Catharines, determining it started by accident. An exact cause wasn't released.
The fire started in a first-floor apartment, sending a man and woman to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. The man, who was taken to a Hamilton hospital, remained in serious condition Tuesday but he appeared to be improving, fire officials said. His name hasn't been released.
Residents from five apartment units will remain out of their homes until structural and air quality tests can be completed and the units properly cleaned, said chief fire prevention officer Nancy Macdonald-Duncan.
The blaze broke out at about 9:30 p.m. and caused an estimated $150,000 damage.
The fire was quickly extinguished and mainly contained to one apartment, but a few other first-floor apartments and one on the second floor sustained smoke damage.
Earlier, fire Chief Mark Mehlenbacher said fire doors and a working smoke detector and alarm saved the tenants from what could have been a far worse fate.
"If they didn't have a smoke detector in there, they wouldn't have made it," he said. "It saved their lives."
Macdonald-Duncan said fires are too often part of the festive season.
She hopes the Christmas blaze reminds people to think about fire safety during the holidays.
"Be conscious of things you have this time of year — candles, lights and cooking," she said.
She reminds people not to overload electrical outlets and not to leave candles unattended.
As well, she said, when cooking holiday feasts, don't leave the stove.
Factbox
St. Catharines chief fire prevention officer Nancy Macdonald-Duncan offered these holiday fire safety tips:
_ Water fresh trees daily, and keep them away from ignition sources such as fireplaces, heaters and candles.
— Have working smoke alarms on every floor of your home and outside all sleeping areas.
— Have working carbon monoxide alarms.
— Be sure everyone knows how to get out of the house safely in the event of a fire, by having an escape plan.
— Use extension cords wisely and only as a temporary connection. Don't place them under rugs, as this can damage the cords and cause a fire.
— Give space heaters space. Keep them at least one metre from anything that can burn, such as curtains, upholstery or holiday decorations.
— When you go out of a room or the house, blow out candles.
— Watch what you heat — stay in the kitchen when cooking, especially if using oil or high temperatures. If a pot catches fire, carefully slide a tight-fitting lid over it to smother the flame, then turn off the stove.
— Encourage smokers to smoke outside, as careless smoking is the leading cause of fires.
— Keep a close eye on anyone attempting to cook or smoke while under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol is often a common factor in fatal fires.
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