The chief coroner of Quebec, Me Reno Bernier, orders the holding of a public inquiry into the two deaths that occurred in the fire in a building in Old Montreal last Friday.
He thus responds to the request of the Minister of Public Security, François Bonnardel.
This fire, which broke out in the early morning in a century-old building in Old Montreal, kept around a hundred firefighters in suspense last Friday. The fire is considered suspicious and the investigation has been transferred to the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM).
Martin Guilbault, head of operations for the Montreal Fire Safety Service (SIM), indicated the day after the fire that the building was compliant.
A mother and her seven-year-old daughter, originally from France, died in the building located at 400 rue Notre-Dame, near rue Bonsecours. It housed a restaurant on the ground floor, as well as Le 402, a 19-room hostel located on the second and third floors.
The building belongs to Emile Benamor, who also owned the heritage building on Place D’Youville which was ravaged by a fire in March 2023. This blaze caused seven victims.
A public inquiry had already been ordered for the 2023 fire, which is to be chaired by coroner Géhane Kamel. To the extent that the two buildings belong to the same owner, and “that the facts are similar”, it is also she who will take care of this new investigation.
“Depending on the progress of the files, [elle] could possibly group them together,” said the press release from the coroner’s office.
The investigation will make it possible to formulate, if necessary, recommendations to avoid other deaths in similar circumstances.