A major fire broke out on Friday morning in a century-old building in Old Montreal on Notre-Dame east, near Bonsecours – prompting an extensive deployment of firefighters to the area.
One person is in critical condition, and two others said to be injured. It’s unclear how many people were evacuated and if everyone got out safely.
The fire is believed to have started on the first floor of the building. The cause is still unknown, but the file has been transferred to Montreal police (SPVM) to investigate.
According to authorities, the fire started at around 2:40 a.m. in the building located at 400 Notre-Dame Street east.
By 7 a.m., the operation was still underway, and smoke was still rising from the area.
Several streets have been closed to traffic by the SPVM near Montreal City Hall to allow firefighters to do their work. The public is asked to avoid the area. Power outages are also possible in the vicinity.
The three-storey building housed a restaurant-bar on the first floor and possibly short-term rentals on the other two.
According to the Rôle d’évaluation foncière de la Ville de Montréal, the building was built in 1923. It is owned by Emile Benamor, who also owned the heritage building on Place D’Youville that was destroyed by fire in March 2023. The blaze claimed seven lives and is under a criminal investigation.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews