Fire damages Montana's restaurant in one of two east end blazes this weekend

Ottawa firefighters responded to a fire at a Montana's restaurant in Ottawa. (Scott Stilborn/Ottawa Fire Services)

Ottawa firefighters responded to two fires that damaged a home and a Montana's restaurant in the city’s east end this weekend.

The first call of the night came shortly before 10:50 p.m. Saturday after multiple 911 callers reported seeing flames and smoke coming from a townhome in the 1900 block of St. Laurent Boulevard, near the Elmvale Acres Shopping Mall.

Firefighters found the fire had started in the basement and spread up to the first floor living room. Two hose lines were advanced inside the home to battle the flames, according to Ottawa fire.

A chainsaw had to be used to open up the first floor to help extinguish the flames.

Two full searches of the home found no occupants inside.

The fire was declared under control shortly before 11:40 p.m.

An Ottawa fire investigator was dispatched to the scene to determine the cause and origin of the fire.

There were no reported injuries.

Another 911 caller reported grey smoke coming from inside the kitchen of a Montana's restaurant shortly after 1 a.m. at 1750 Ogilvie Road.

On arrival, fire crews could smell a strong smell of smoke and see a haze inside.

Occupants from the restaurant met firefighters outside and confirmed everyone had evacuated safely.

"The flames had travelled through a ventilation system duct work and up into the roof. Firefighters set up an aerial ladder to attack the fire from above and crews inside began to pull down the ceiling in the kitchen area to extinguish the flames in between the ceiling and the roof," a news release said.

The fire was declared under control shortly after 1:30 a.m. High pressurized fans were used to ventilate the smoke out of the structure.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

There were no reports of injuries.