Screams for help lead firefighters to woman and child in burning townhome

Ottawa firefighters say they rescued a woman, a child and a cat from a burning townhome near the Ottawa International Airport Tuesday night.

In a social media post, Ottawa Fire Services said they received a call about an odour of natural gas near a three-storey townhome on Twyford Street.

When firefighters arrived they saw smoke coming from the side of the building and forced their way inside. That's when they heard screams for help coming from the kitchen, where they found the adult and child.

One woman was taken to hospital in serious condition, according to Ottawa paramedic spokesperson Marc-Antoine Deschamps. Two teenagers were also transported to hospital in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries while a third teen was treated at the scene, Deschamps said.

Firefighters combed the home twice more and during the second search found a cat. The animal was also carried from the burning building and given oxygen.

Flames had to be extinguished in the basement and ground floor before the fire was considered under control around 9:20 p.m. Residents were eventually allowed back into the building's other units.

Twyford Street is just north of the airport and about nine kilometres south of Ottawa's downtown core.