CORNWALL, Ontario – Following the investigation of the Alice Street blaze which took place Monday, May 8, the Cornwall Fire Department revealed the cause of the blaze was careless use of smoking articles.
Emergency responders were on the scene around 11 p.m. at the second-floor apartment building, where the resident self-evacuated through the balcony. Paramedics treated the resident, who was treated and released in stable condition.
Deputy Fire Chief, Bruce Donig says that while the fire department has finalized their investigation, the report has not yet been finalized.
“We don’t have a monetary value of the damage yet, but the damage to the top unit was fairly extensive,” said Donig. “It appears that the contents were a total loss.”
According to onlookers, firefighters had to demolish the apartment’s roof and walls to ensure the fire was fully extinguished.