Ottawa police asked people to avoid Sussex Drive and Clarence Street Tuesday evening after emergency services responded to reports of a person setting themselves on fire, and they were later pronounced dead.
Emergency crews tried to save the person but they succumbed to their injuries, according to a tweet from police.
Streets in the area have since re-opened.
The police arson unit, fire marshal and coroner’s office are all part of the investigation, police said.
Incident doesn’t appear linked to embassy: authorities
The incident happened near the U.S. Embassy, but police haven’t established a link between the incident and the embassy.
In an emailed statement, the RCMP echoed it doesn’t believe the incident was linked to the embassy in any way, adding it attended the scene at approximately 4 p.m. and helped in an assistance capacity.
A gasoline smell lingered at the scene hours after the incident.
John Rmor, who owns a boutique across the street, said he saw another local business operator running toward the scene with a fire extinguisher.
Rmor then grabbed his own extinguisher but held back when he saw firefighters rush in, he said.
“I [didn’t] know in that moment what was going on. But later, just the smell of gas,” Rmor said.
Police say the next of kin haven’t been notified.
The incident is under investigation jointly by the OPS Arson Unit, Office of the Fire Marshall and the Coroner’s office. At this time, nothing indicates the incident is related to the US Embassy. No other information is available at this time. <a href=”https://t.co/KO4O7SQNmz”>https://t.co/KO4O7SQNmz</a>
—@OttawaPolice
If you are in crisis or know someone who is, here’s where to get help:
- Ottawa Mental Health Crisis Line: 613-722-6914
- Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 | 45645 (Text, 4-12 p.m. ET)
- In Quebec (French): Association québécoise de prévention du suicide: 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553)
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 (Phone), Live Chat counselling at www.kidshelpphone.ca
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