Fiery blast guts Ottawa stores, leaves millions in damage

Ottawans were left with millions of dollars in damage to clean up on Friday morning after a late-night fire and explosion sent glass flying and sent one passerby to the hospital.

Fire crews were called to the blaze in the Glebe neighbourhood around 11 p.m. Thursday night, according to media reports. Firefighters spent more than five hours getting the flames under control along the block of shops at Fifth Avenue on Bank Street, the city’s main commercial thoroughfare. Power outages affected more than 700 customers in the area, but power was mostly restored by early Friday morning.

Michael Valenti, 26, was hit by flying glass and treated for cuts to the face and leg, CBC News reported.

Throughout the night, Ottawans captured scenes of the inferno on social media.