A major fire burning in Old Montreal has left two people dead and one person in critical condition, according to Radio-Canada.┬а
Montreal police have opened an investigation into the fire, which started around 2 a.m. in a three-storey building┬аat the corner of Notre-Dame and Bonsecours streets.┬а
Police say the fire may be suspicious in nature.┬а
Jonathan Michaud┬аof the Montreal fire department said┬аthe fire broke out on the main floor┬аwhere a restaurant is located. He said the fire spread quickly.
The fire department has sent about 125 firefighters and 50 trucks to the scene.
About 125 firefighters and 50 trucks were on the scene, near the corner of Notre-Dame and Bonsecours streets. The fire has left two people dead and one in critical condition, according to Radio-Canada.
Municipal tax records show the owner of the building is ├Йmile-Haim Benamor, who also owned the building on Place D’Youville in Old Montreal where seven people died in March 2023. The restaurant located on the main floor of the building┬аis owned by another person.
Property records show that the building was constructed┬аin 1923. Those records also show that in┬а2021, Benamor requested a $10,000 permit to build a “20-room hotel” in the building on Notre-Dame Street.┬а
A hostel called Le┬а402 is located on the second and third floors of the building. Photos of the hostel on booking websites show exposed brick walls,┬аa shared lounge and rooms with a city view.┬а
Some comments, however, describe the accommodations as crammed and rundown. Multiple reviewers also report bedrooms without windows or windows that wouldn’t open.┬а
CBC reached out to┬аBenamor’s lawyer on Friday morning. He declined to comment.┬а
Urgences-sant├й said┬аone man was taken to hospital with burns. Police later said the person was in critical condition. Two other people were treated for shock on the scene.
Approximately 40 people from an adjacent building were forced out and are being supported by the Red Cross.┬а
Montreal police said last year that the March 2023 fire at the building on Place D’Youville┬аwas intentionally set.┬аInspectors had┬аflagged a number of fire safety violations at that building, including a lack of smoke detectors and problems with its fire escape. The building hosted Airbnbs, which were illegal in that area.
