Dozens of vehicles damaged when fire collapses carport roof
An overnight fire in a carport in Ottawa's Bayshore area damaged 25 vehicles when it caused the structure's roof to collapse.
Emergency crews were called to a car fire at 40 Bayshore Dr. at about 12:50 a.m., according to Ottawa Fire Services.
When the first firefighters arrived, they saw the flames had spread throughout the carport and to the side of a neighbouring townhouse.
The carport's roof eventually collapsed, damaging 25 vehicles inside, and flames damaged the outside of the townhouse next door.
The fire was eventually brought under control just after 2 a.m.
"The gas tanks, you could see them exploding and the smoke was terrible," said Corina Brown, who lives in the townhome and lost her vehicle in the fire.
"It took them a while to get it out but thank God they got it in time. It caught my house [on fire] but it didn't go through [the wall]."
The cause of the fire is not yet known, but the Ottawa police arson unit is getting involved in the investigation, according to fire spokesperson Danielle Cardinal.
Damage is estimated at about $475,000.
Southbound Bayshore Drive is down to one lane around Woodridge Drive as an investigation and cleanup efforts continue.
