OTTAWA – Two fires had crews responding to opposite ends of the city less than 30 minutes apart Sunday night.

Shortly after 6 p.m. fire crews were called to 3924 Old Richmond Rd. where they battled a blaze that had destroyed a deck.

They defensively extinguished the flames before they could spread to the house, but the exterior was damaged.

No one was injured, and damage is pegged at $5,000.

Meanwhile, shortly after 6:30 p.m. firefighters were called to 203 Rochester St., where a kitchen fire ripped through a second floor apartment above Handyman Personnel.

Crews used a ladder to rescue a man from the balcony.  He was brought to the ground safely, but suffered serious smoke inhalation and was taken to hospital in critical condition.

Damage is estimated at $100,000.