Careless smoking blamed for fire at Wellington Street North row house

A large townhouse fire on Wellington Street North that left at least four people temporarily homeless was likely caused by careless smoking, fire officials say.

Firefighters successfully battled to keep the flames from spreading to other units of the old row house after responding to reports of a blaze around 7:50 p.m. Thursday.

They also entered the smokefilled building to escort out three residents who were assessed by paramedics but not taken to hospital.

Fire department spokesperson Claudio Mostacci said Friday four people living at 55 Wellington St. N. — near King William Street — will have to look for other places to stay because the building suffered about $150,000 in damage and is “temporarily uninhabitable.”

Jason Polmanter told The Spectator he lost all of his possessions in the blaze but was grateful to have escaped uninjured.

“At least I’m alive. That’s all that matters,” Polmanter said.

Three people living in the adjacent unit at 53 Wellington also had to go elsewhere Thursday night after hydro to the entire building was cut. But Mostacci said electricity was expected to be restored after the building owner had the unit inspected.

A fire department release said the probable cause of the fire was careless disposal of cigarettes.