A Candle Fire Destroyed An Entire Ottawa Home & It Took A River To Put It Out (PHOTOS)

They lit multiple candles during a huge power outage.
Managing Editor, Canada

Monday night’s power outage ended in tragedy at one Ottawa home. A house on River Road has been left unrecognizable, after a fallen candle caused the building to go up in flames. As there were no hydrants nearby, local firefighters were forced to use river water to control the huge Ottawa fire.

Just after 9 p.m. on August 17, Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) responded to reports that a property on River Road was fully engulfed in flames.

According to OFS, per CBC News, residents had lit multiple candles inside of the home, following a power outage caused by a strong storm in the area.

Editor's Choice: Ontario Driver Thinks They're In 'Fast & Furious' & Causes Massive Crash (VIDEO)

Firefighters were told that one of the candles had fallen over, triggering the huge blaze inside the property.

Upon arriving at the scene, emergency responders found no hydrants outside the house. OFS explained that firefighters opted to pump water from a nearby river to “increase the supply of water required to tackle the flames.” 

Tanker Vehicles also shuttled water from a hydrant in the area, OFS added.   

Although high winds threatened to spread the fire to nearby properties, crews were able to prevent the flames from advancing.

Responders confirmed that all residents had safely evacuated the home upon their arrival.

The property, located at 330 River Road, appears to be listed for sale online.

According to the real estate listing, the home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, and was built in 1984. It has an asking price of $750,000. 

While OFS has not confirmed the extent of the damage to the building, the initial situation was described as a “fully involved house fire.”

On Monday night, a tornado watch was issued in parts of Ontario, with Environment Canada warning that locals should be prepared to take cover.

The storm caused power outages across Ottawa, and thousands of residents were left without power for several hours.

OFS confirmed that the fire on River Road has now been extinguished. 

On the same night, crews responded to multiple downed power lines and trees, as well as a collision on March Road.

  • Managing Editor

    Helena Hanson (she/her) is the Managing Editor of Canada for Narcity and MTL Blog, where she brings her expertise in dreamy, aspirational travel journalism to life. A first-class graduate of Cardiff University's School of Journalism, Helena has a passion for inspiring readers to discover the magic in their own backyards. Originally from the U.K., Helena has spent years uncovering hidden gems and must-see destinations across countries like Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, and more. Having lived in both Canada and Australia, she's become a seasoned expert in off-the-beaten-path adventures and bucket-list experiences that don't break the bank. Whether she's writing about things to do in Ottawa, Montreal, or her favourite spot—Disney World—Helena hopes to leave readers dreaming of their next adventure.

A decade after the Fort McMurray wildfire

'Who we are': Albertans remember Fort McMurray wildfire 10 years later

Quebec and Ontario officials on alert over floods

Quebec and Ontario officials are remaining on alert over spring flooding

Communities across Canada on flood alert

'Stay away from the water': Communities across Canada on flood alert

Cities across Canada on flood watch as waters rise

Montreal brings in sandbags, pumps as several provinces on flood alert

Canada has a mini Caribbean with 3 powder sand beaches and azure waters

It's like a taste of tropics, minus the expensive flight. 🌴🌊

You can get up to $717 from Canada's grocery benefit top-up payment this week

Check your bank account or your mailbox for money soon!

7 VIA Rail summer getaways from Toronto that cost less than a tank of gas round-trip

You can explore the province without stopping at the pumps.