Community donates more than $20,000 to Donald Street fire victims

Published May 12, 2024 • Last updated 29 minutes ago • 2 minute read

Two children and one adult were rescued and sent to hospital and other residents were evacuated from the high-rise at 1244 Donald Street Thursday following a fire. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /POSTMEDIA

Members of the community have donated about $22,000 to help support residents of a Donald Street highrise building which experienced two serious fires break out earlier this month.

Tim Tierney, Ottawa city councillor for Beacon Hill-Cyrville, highlighted the community’s efforts in a social media post on Sunday morning. Tierney organized a community gathering and fundraiser at North Ogilvie Park for the fire victims on Saturday.

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“It was heartwarming to see youth and even some of the longest-standing residents, living in the building for 40 years, come out and chat today,” Tierney said in the post. “Someone must be chopping onions in here!”

An early morning fire on May 2 forced the evacuation of about 200 residents at the 1244 Donald St. highrise apartment building. The fire left two children and a woman in critical condition, with a handful of others taken to the hospital. It also left 56 people living in 16 units on the third floor, where the fire started, displaced while repairs are made.

Saeed Mohamed, 42, was charged with arson and attempted murder in connection with the fire. As of last week, police were still investigating, appealing for the public’s help.

A second fire in the highrise broke out on May 3, with Ottawa fire services stating that the fire was in the bedroom of a unit on building’s sixth floor. That fire was not deemed suspicious.

Tierney noted that the property management company for the building, Q Residential, donated $5,000 to Red Cross. He added that the North Gloucester Giants Football Club donated $600 worth of toys and goods and that 550 gift cards have been donated.

“The whole community came out, including Ottawa Police, Ottawa Public Health, and Crime Stoppers,” Tierney said in the post. “Big shoutout to fellow Councillors King and Brockington for joining us, and to Gloucester High School for their phenomenal fundraising powers.”

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