A fire broke out early Saturday afternoon at Ashton at Richmond Hill, a Richmond Hill apartment complex located on Harris Trail Rd. 

According to Capt. John Cook of the Richmond Hill Fire Department, a call was received “shortly after 2 p.m.” regarding a structure fire at Ashton Apartments. 

“There was fire coming from the balcony and through the roof,” Cook said. 

“Crews made quick entry and started fire suppression activities. We also had a search crew go in to search for occupants. The fire was knocked down within minutes. The occupants had made it out on their own,” Cook said. 

No injuries to either civilians or firefighters were reported, although Cook said a cat suffering smoke inhalation was found by crew members.

“The cat was given some oxygen therapy. He responded well to it, and is doing fine now and is back with the owners.”  Cook said.

Freddie Wilson, a passer-by who was visiting his mother for the holidays, played a role in helping those in the burning apartment get out safely. 

“Me and my daughter, we came down here to throw away some trash, you know, from Christmas and everything, and as we pulled up to the trash cans, we just noticed that the balcony was on fire,” Wilson said.

“We saw a little guy sitting on the steps, and alerted him that, you know, the place was on fire. He got up and ran in, and I ran in behind him, made sure everybody got out.”

“We got everybody out on time.” Wilson said.

Unfortunately, two families were displaced as a result of the fire. The affected apartment housed a family of four, and the apartment below suffered water damage and housed a family of two, according to the Richmond Hill Fire Department. 

The Red Cross was contacted to help assist the families in need, according to Capt. John Cook. 

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.