A fire in a container at the Port of Montreal forces an intervention by the Montreal Fire Department (SIM) and plunges part of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve into darkness. Several dozen firefighters are still on site, at the intersection of Bossuet and Notre-Dame East streets.
The borough of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve is reporting a fire involving more than 15,000 kg of lithium batteries.
The SIM is asking citizens to avoid the area, where a strong chemical smell has been present since the start of the intervention, shortly after 3 p.m. It is also asking citizens in the surrounding area to stay at home and close windows and ventilation systems.
According to a Port of Montreal worker met on site, the fire started in the refrigerator of a 40-foot container, which runs on lithium batteries. It was these batteries that first caught fire, and the flames then spread to adjacent facilities.
The entire neighborhood was plunged into darkness, even more than a kilometer from the fire site. A thick cloud of smoke covered the sky in the last hours before sunset and the traffic lights were no longer working. According to the Hydro-Québec website, power should be restored Tuesday morning.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
The Montreal Fire Department is asking residents to avoid the area, where there is a strong chemical smell.
Roadblocks were also set up by firefighters and police in the area, which the City limits to a quadrilateral formed by Haig Avenue to the east, Vimont Street to the west, Hochelaga Street to the north and the St. Lawrence River to the south.
The SIM’s hazardous materials response team is handling the situation. SIM says no one was injured.
The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility also specified on social networks closures for “the Honoré-Beaugrand accesses towards Souligny Ouest and highway 25 South towards Souligny Ouest.”