One of three people who were seriously injured Friday night in a fire in a multi-apartment building in eastern Montreal died in hospital.
The tragic outcome was confirmed at daybreak by agent Sabrina Gauthier, of the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM). The police specified that the victim is a 58-year-old man.
Earlier, authorities said the three people were in critical condition when they were taken to hospital.
According to the SPVM, it was a call made around 4:45 a.m. to the 911 emergency telephone center that alerted the authorities. A first alarm was sounded shortly after by firefighters from the Montreal Fire Safety Service (SSIM).
There was then evacuation of the building which is located on Boulevard Saint-Jean-Baptiste, near the intersection of Rue de la Gauchetière, in the Pointe-aux-Trembles district.
Inspector Francis Fleury, from the SSIM, confirmed that the fire was contained, having raged only in a single apartment on the second floor of the building which would be a low-rent housing (HLM) belonging to the Office municipal housing of Montreal.
Everything indicates that the three people transported to the hospital were in this apartment.
SPVM police officers closed traffic for an indefinite period on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Boulevard, between René-Lévesque and Victoria streets.
No hypothesis as to the cause of the fire had yet been made at daybreak. Since one person lost their life in the fire, the SPVM arson squad will lead the investigation.
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