‘Ottawa’ Conroy Pit Brush Fire Alarms Nearby South Ottawa Homeowners
A brush fire in a popular south Ottawa dog park on the weekend got a little too close for comfort for people who live nearby.
Ottawa firefighters responded to a call at around 4:30 p.m. Sunday about a fire on the west side of Conroy Pit, near Conroy Road and Hunt Club Road.
“I was working in the garden… And then I looked in the back and saw a massive amount of smoke — a lot of smoke — so I called 911,” said Diane Campbell, who lives on nearby.
Fire crews arrived quickly and were able to get it under control, according to Mark Buckshon, whose backyard is just metres from where the fire burned.
“At one point the flames got quite significant and there was a lot of smoke, fortunately the firemen put it out,” he said.
Still, it was a tense scene for some homeowners on Carriage Hill Place, which backs onto Conroy Pit.
“It’s a residential neighbourhood. Who knows? Wind blows, and we could have a real problem,” added Buckshon.
An Ottawa fire dispatch official said firefighters returned Monday morning after a passerby spotted what appeared to be a hotspot, but nothing was burning.
While it’s unclear just how the fire started, neighhours said that area of Conroy Pit is popular for campfires and gatherings and they worry about the fire threat when the weather’s warm and dry.
“That area in the pit has been used for campfires and stuff over the years, but this is the first weekend where there’s been this seemingly concerted amount of activity… and more than one visit from the emergency services,” said Buckshon.