MONTREAL — Montreal police are investigating a major fire that broke out early Friday morning in a century-old building in the city's historic district, with at least one person taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Fire officials say the fire broke out around 2:40 a.m. on the ground floor and the cause is unknown, but police have taken over the investigation because the blaze is considered suspicious. About 125 firefighters were deployed to the scene, and smoke could be seen billowing from the building for several blocks in Old Montreal.
"The investigation has now been transferred to the Montreal police and the large security perimeter has been set up," Const. Manuel Couture said, adding that at least one person was seriously injured.
Apart from one person hospitalized with burns, a second person was treated for shock. It is unclear if there are more victims, and Montreal police said they wouldn't comment before a news conference scheduled later on Friday afternoon.
City of Montreal property records say the Notre-Dame Street East building was constructed in 1923 and is owned by Emile Benamor. He is also listed as the owner of a heritage building nearby that was ravaged by fire in March 2023, leading to the deaths of seven people.
Alexandre Bergevin, a lawyer who represents Benamor, said his client did not have any comment on the fire. The ground floor of the building housed a wine bar — Loam. The upper floors were rented out to a third-party that operated a hostel called Le 402, Bergevin said. On the website booking.com, reservations for the hostel were suspended Friday.
Nancy Drummond, 35, said she lives a few units away from where the fire broke out. She said she was told by a neighbour in the middle of the night to leave immediately, and could see flames coming from the restaurant. She managed to grab her shoes and little else.
"There was a boom, something that rattled our building," Drummond said. "I looked outside and I see the fire department, fire trucks, and then my neighbour knocked immediately (to leave.)"
A block down from Montreal’s City Hall, Notre-Dame Street was lined with fire trucks as firefighters worked to control the fire. Several people wrapped in Red Cross blankets stood in the street, looking on as a cloud of grey smoke billowed in the air.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante says on X that her thoughts are with the victims and others affected by the fire.
Fire department officials said fires in the city's historic district are complicated, in part because streets are narrow and buildings are adjoined in a row.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 4, 2024.
Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press
