Two residential fires in the city on Monday

City fire officials say charges related to the absence of smoke alarms are pending after two residential fires yesterday (Monday) in the city.

Deputy Chief Greg Saunders says the first fire, at 11:30 am, breached a second floor window at a Carruthers Street townhouse unit and was quickly extinguished by crews, sparing adjoining units from significant fire damage.

He says smoke alarms were disabled and the cause of the fire is believed to be related to smoking materials.

Neighbours alerted the residents to the fire and they were able to get out safely.

Later on crews responded to a basement fire on King Street West, around 4 pm, with an unattended candle the cause there.

The homeowner returned home and called 911 when he realized the home was on fire.

Saunders says the home didn’t have working smoke alarms.

(File photo by station staff)