A residential building was engulfed in flames overnight from Saturday to Sunday in the Saint-Henri district of Montreal. One hundred and fifty firefighters were called to the scene to fight the blaze.
Posted at 8:54 a.m.
Updated at 3:05 p.m.
“It was a fire that was very difficult to control,” said Alain Laflamme, section chief at the Montreal Fire Department (SIM) on Sunday morning.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
The apartment building, located at the intersection of Saint-Jacques and Sainte-Marguerite streets, “is a total loss,” said Mr. Laflamme. It had three floors and 25 apartments.
Seven families have been supported by the Red Cross. The other residents of the building have taken refuge with family members or acquaintances. The fire caused no injuries.
A power outage occurred in the area during the firefighters’ intervention.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
City Councilor for the district of Saint-Henri-Est–Petite-Bourgogne–Pointe-Saint-Charles–Griffintown, Craig Sauvé, described the fire as “a hellish scene to bear witness to”. He said he was happy to hear that everyone was able to get out safe and sound. “That’s the most important thing,” he said on Twitter.
By morning, the fire had been brought under control, but teams were still on site. Residents came to see the extent of the damage. “It smelled of smoke everywhere in the hallway of my apartment block. Several people called the fire department because they were worried,” said Katherine, who lives a few blocks from the fire.
A few meters further, Chrystopher Magnan watched the firefighters at work. The man could not return to his vehicle, parked just below the burning building. “I came to watch the hockey game with friends and when I left, around 10 a.m., the street was already blocked,” he said.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) has opened an investigation to shed light on this event, said police spokesperson Caroline Chèvrefils.