More than a hundred firefighters, nine people hospitalized, a missing victim, electricity cut in the neighborhood, a heavily damaged building: the flames ravaged a building in Place D’Youville on Thursday morning, in the area of Old Montreal. About a hundred firefighters finally brought the blaze under control shortly before noon.
At least one person is missing, announced the director of firefighters of Montreal, Richard Liebmann, in a press briefing around noon. “There’s a person we’re actively looking for”
According to information sent to the media, the smoke detectors were possibly not functional in the apartments.
“Nine people, including three seriously injured, were transported to a hospital, among other things for burns,” said Martin Guilbault, division chief at the Montreal Fire Department (SIM).
The fire broke out around 5:40 a.m. Thursday and required a fifth alarm. The flames were still apparent almost an hour later. Around 9 a.m., the fire was inconspicuous, but thick smoke was still spreading through the neighborhood.
Several residents were evacuated, says Patrick Fournel, section head at the SIM.
Firefighters performed four portable ladder evacuations and two aerial ladder evacuations.
Power has been cut to buildings around the perimeter and is expected to return around 4 p.m.
The cause of the fire in this three-storey building located at the southeast corner of the intersection with rue du Port is unknown at this time. It is a residential building with offices on the ground floor. Nearly 120 firefighters were deployed.