Mar 08, 2022 • Last updated Mar 09, 2022 •
Firefighters were still dousing a fourth-floor apartment at 195 Lisgar Avenue in Tillsonburg on Tuesday morning, an hour after they arrived. Two people suffered minor injuries during the incident. (Chris Abbott/Norfolk and Tillsonburg News) jpg, SR
TILLSONBURG A resident rushed to warn others about a fire in their six-storey building in Tillsonburg early Tuesday morning.
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“There were alarms, but if you’re in the bedroom you can’t hear it very well,” said third-floor resident Art Surette. “I woke my wife (Bev) up. I was in my pyjamas having coffee when the alarm went off. There was a hell of a lot of noise upstairs, a banging noise, so I knew there was something wrong upstairs. So I ran up and banged on everybody’s doors.”
Surette returned to his apartment to get dressed before heading back to the fourth floor where the fire is believed to have started.
“I knew there was fire coming out of (an) apartment; there was smoke. (The woman) came out and I couldn’t even see her face. The smoke was thick; I told her to get down on her knees. She couldn’t do that, so I finally got a hold of her hand and I walked her out.”
Tillsonburg Fire and Rescue Services quickly responded to the fire at 195 Lisgar Avenue after receiving the call at 6:52 a. m.
The Oxford OPP also received a 911 call from someone at the Dave Johnson Memorial Dog Park who spotted flames coming from the building.
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“The first responder was there within 12 minutes,” said Deputy Mayor Dave Beres at the Tillsonburg Community Centre Lions Auditorium where officials set up a temporary emergency shelter. “I saw it about 7:30 a. m., and flames – yellow flames – were coming out of the backend (south) unit – it was bad.”
Second-floor resident Wilfred ‘Bill’ Tait, one of the 39 residents taken to the emergency shelter, managed to escape using the stairs.
“I never heard the alarm – I just happened to hear the banging and saw (lights) flashing in the window. I shoved open the window and saw OPP and firefighters down below. They yelled at me, ‘Do you need help? Can you get out?’ I said ‘yeah.’”
When firefighters first arrived, heavy fire and smoke were pouring from the south fourth-floor corner unit.
“We knew we needed more resources right off that bat so we called for mutual aid from Norfolk (Courtland Station) and South-West Oxford (Brownsville Station),” said Tillsonburg Fire Chief Shane Caskanette.
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“There were several people on balconies when we got here; it must have been pretty smoky in those halls. We rescued several people off their balconies.” EMS and police were also present at the scene.
Caskanette explained what it takes to battle such fires while ensuring everyone gets safely evacuated.
“In these buildings it’s crucial to secure ‘all clears’, get folks out safely,” he mentioned. “Ideally it’s fire floor first then above that floor then another level above it until everyone’s safe; however we did face some mobility challenges with some needing help getting off their balconies… for as long as an hour or more.” A few residents were still asleep when alarms went off.
“My wife woke me up saying ‘there’s a fire,’” recalled Matt Weber from his fifth-floor home.
“At first I thought someone had pulled another false alarm? But then she insisted ‘It’s actually fire.’ Looking outside my window confirmed it since smoke filled our view.” “Even smoke filled our stairwell,” he added. “Once it’s in there you can’t tell how far down it goes so going downstairs felt risky.” This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. “When I opened that stairwell door all that came into mind was that breathing would be impossible for us,” Weber recounted anxiously.
“I wasn’t sure which floor had caught flame.” Art Barnard lived on sixth floor north side couldn’t access either staircase successfully as both sets filled with dense smoke upon opening his door.
“I knew better than taking stairs or elevators during fires but what options are left?” Barnard waited patiently for rescue on his balcony until firefighters could reach him. “Two individuals went by ambulance directly towards Tillsonburg hospital with non-life-threatening injuries while seven others received assessments right there,” stated Ryan Hall deputy chief oxford county paramedic services
Paramedics intended remaining community center throughout this emergency situation
Julie Dawley backup community center manager announced residents could return later during day retrieve essential items The blaze remained contained strictly within fourth story section building
Caskanette noted “Only targeted area burned through breaking glass fifth story no flames reached upper levels ” The Office Ontario Fire Marshal received notification promptly began investigating cause incident
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Art and Bev Surette are pictured on left while Mat Weber is seen right alongside fellow victims dislocated Monday due ongoing housing struggles ignited moment reported earlier weeks bringing serious attention local authorities collaborating efficiently toward rectifying crisis situations brought forth by recent disasters affecting neighborhoods around them often overlooked areas requiring assistance regularly(SRC=Chris Abbottnorfolktillso news)
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Caskanette explained what it takes to battle such fires while ensuring everyone gets safely evacuated.
“In these buildings it’s crucial to secure ‘all clears’, get folks out safely,” he mentioned. “Ideally it’s fire floor first then above that floor then another level above it until everyone’s safe; however we did face some mobility challenges with some needing help getting off their balconies… for as long as an hour or more.” A few residents were still asleep when alarms went off.
“My wife woke me up saying ‘there’s a fire,’” recalled Matt Weber from his fifth-floor home.
“At first I thought someone had pulled another false alarm? But then she insisted ‘It’s actually fire.’ Looking outside my window confirmed it since smoke filled our view.” “Even smoke filled our stairwell,” he added. “Once it’s in there you can’t tell how far down it goes so going downstairs felt risky.” This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. “When I opened that stairwell door all that came into mind was that breathing would be impossible for us,” Weber recounted anxiously.
“I wasn’t sure which floor had caught flame.” Art Barnard lived on sixth floor north side couldn’t access either staircase successfully as both sets filled with dense smoke upon opening his door.
“I knew better than taking stairs or elevators during fires but what options are left?” Barnard waited patiently for rescue on his balcony until firefighters could reach him. “Two individuals went by ambulance directly towards Tillsonburg hospital with non-life-threatening injuries while seven others received assessments right there,” stated Ryan Hall deputy chief oxford county paramedic services
Paramedics intended remaining community center throughout this emergency situation
Julie Dawley backup community center manager announced residents could return later during day retrieve essential items The blaze remained contained strictly within fourth story section building
Caskanette noted “Only targeted area burned through breaking glass fifth story no flames reached upper levels ” The Office Ontario Fire Marshal received notification promptly began investigating cause incident
cabbott
Art and Bev Surette are pictured on left while Mat Weber is seen right alongside fellow victims dislocated Monday due ongoing housing struggles ignited moment reported earlier weeks bringing serious attention local authorities collaborating efficiently toward rectifying crisis situations brought forth by recent disasters affecting neighborhoods around them often overlooked areas requiring assistance regularly(SRC=Chris Abbottnorfolktillso news)
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