KILMAURS – Firefighters from Constance Bay had to battle the heat from a fire as well as the heat from the sun during a Wednesday afternoon (July 3) call on Woodkilton Road.

Volunteer firefighters from Ottawa Fire Service Station 63 in Constance Bay were the fist on scene to suppress a fire at an unoccupied home.

“Ottawa Fire received a 911 call from a passerby at 3:04 p.m., that black smoke was coming from the house,” OFS public information officer Danielle Cardinal released in a statement yesterday evening. “With information provided by 911 callers and the visible black smoke, Ottawa fire crew declared a working fire while still responding at 3:10 p.m.”

The unoccupied home was located at 4536 Woodkilton Rd. between Kilmaurs Side Road and Galetta Side Road. Ottawa police closed the road due to the multiple fire trucks and other emergency vehicles on location.

OFS District 6 Chief Bill Bell said the warm temperatures created a greater challenge for firefighters battling the blaze.

“Now that’s hot,” Bell released in a statement. “Great teamwork in battling a house fire in the heat today. Thanks to stations 66, 61, 62, 63, 64, 45, 41, 54, safety23, INV1, Car40, and 22. Special thanks to the Salvation Army for feeding us. Now that is teamwork.”

West Carleton is in the midst of what Environment Canada a “heat event” firefighters had to work in 30 degree Celsius-plus temperatures. With the humidity, it felt more like 40 degrees.

There were no reported injuries at this time.