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, leaving at least one person in hospital.
Authorities say the fire is believed to have started on the ground floor and the cause is unknown, but police have taken over the investigation because the blaze is considered suspicious.
Apart from one person hospitalized with burns, a second person was treated for shock but did not need to be hospitalized. It is unclear if there are more victims.
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.
"Firefighters are still working to extinguish the blaze, making it impossible to enter the building," Montreal Const. Manuel Couture said.
"The investigation has now been transferred to the Montreal police and the large security perimeter has been set up."
About 125 firefighters were deployed to the scene, and smoke could be seen billowing from the building for several blocks in Old Montreal. Fire broke out about 2:40 a.m. on the ground floor, which houses a restaurant, with the upper floors used for short-term rentals.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante says in a post 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. Officials said they declared the blaze a five-alarm fire — the most serious kind — within 30 minutes of it being reported.
"There were visible flames on the ground floor but spread very quickly to the upper floors," said fire department spokesman George Bele. "For the moment, we are still in a defensive strategy."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 4, 2024.
Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press
