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Posted by: kwflatbed

RYAN CUREATZ, RECORD STAFF
The Record (Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario)


A two-and-half hour standoff yesterday between police and a man who refused to leave his fourth-storey balcony outside a flaming apartment ended with the man's surrender.
The 38-year-old man surrendered to police at about 2:30 p.m. after intense face-to-face negotiations.
He was being examined for smoke inhalation last night at Grand River Hospital, said Waterloo regional police Insp. Bryan Larkin.
Seven officers also were treated for smoke inhalation at hospital after a fire broke out in the man's fourth-floor apartment on Stirling Avenue South near Mill Street.
Police were called to the building shortly after 11:30 a.m. to investigate a domestic dispute, Larkin said.
They had spoken with a woman at an undisclosed location before they arrived at the man's apartment, he said.
A man at the fourth-floor apartment would not open the door for police and threatened to hurt himself as officers spoke to him through the door, Larkin said.
The Emergency Response Unit was called when police became concerned for his safety.
Officers at the scene soon smelled smoke coming from the apartment, Larkin said.
"This incident escalated very quickly," Larkin said.
As firefighters arrived to extinguish the blaze, the man went onto his balcony, he said.
He was the only one in the apartment at the time and he is believed to have set the fire, Larkin said.
By 12:15 p.m., thick dark smoke was billowing from windows on at least three sides of the building as the man stood over a railing on the edge of his balcony in front of dozens of onlookers and residents who had evacuated the building.
Dan Shaw, who said he and his best friend lived in the man's apartment, was overcome with emotion outside the building.
"I don't know what we're going to do," he said. "We've got nothing. I didn't think this would ever happen to me."
Shaw and his best friend, a woman, left the apartment at about 11 a.m. and returned to find police on the scene, he said.
Charles McKinnon, who lives across the street from the building, said he thought the man was trapped on the balcony.
But the man wouldn't climb down a ladder firefighters set up for him, he said.
"Everyone thought he was trapped," he said.
Smoke was still pouring out of the apartment's windows by 12:30 p.m. as police and firefighters occupied balconies beside and under where the man was defying rescue.
The brick surrounding the outside windows was visibly charred.
Melanie Shantz said she managed to rescue a cat from her friend's apartment after she heard the fire alarm start to blare.
"I looked out the balcony and I saw fire blowing up from behind the building," she said.
The man's apartment was heavily damaged by the fire and there was "a fair bit of damage to the fourth floor," Larkin said.
Kitchener Platoon Chief Ron Taves estimated the total damage at more than $300,000.
About 50 people were evacuated from the building and Red Cross workers were helping to provide them with support and a safe place to stay, he said.
It's unclear when residents may be able to return to their homes, he said.
Ahmadzia Ashrafi and Maliqa Ashrafi, who live in the building, were among those who left in search of aid.
"I feel cold and I feel scared," said Ahmadzia, who was holding his young daughter.
Police had not laid any charges as of late yesterday.
Waterloo regional police ask anyone with information on the incident to call Division 1 at 519-653-7700, ext. 4499, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

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