Two people seriously injured in Wellington South blaze, fire marshal called in to investigate

Two people were seriously injured after a blaze broke out in an apartment building in central Hamilton Saturday afternoon.

In a media release, Hamilton Fire Department assistant deputy chief Shawn De Jager said at around 12:15 p.m. on Jan. 8, emergency services were called to a structure fire at 47 Wellington St. S. between Main and Jackson streets.

De Jager said the first crews at the scene reported heavy smoke showing from the fourth floor of the five-story apartment building. At that time, the fire was also upgraded to a multiple-alarm call and additional trucks and crews were dispatched to the scene.

Crews then started an interior search and rescue and firefighting operation, where they found heavy smoke conditions and a blaze inside of a fourth floor unit.

De Jager said as crews worked to put out the fire, the occupant of the affected unit was located on a balcony beside their burning apartment and put into the care of paramedics. A second resident of the building was also rescued by firefighters.

Speaking to The Spectator, Hamilton Paramedic Supt. Dave Thompson said paramedics transported both people to a local hospital. A woman in her 30s was in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, while a man in his 40s was in serious condition, he added.

De Jager said the fire was put out quickly but not before the affected unit sustained significant damage." No other injuries were reported in the fire and evacuated residents have returned to their apartments.

The Office of the Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate the blaze, said De Jager. The cause of the fire has not been determined and the estimated amount of damage is unknown.

Wellington Street South was briefly closed as firefighters battled the blaze.

Fallon Hewitt is a reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com