‘It was intentional’: Survivor of Old Montreal fire recounts horror of tragedy, now criminal in nature

When flames overtook the Old Montreal apartment building on Place D’Youville five months ago killing seven people, resident Patrick Brasseur says he knew it was criminal, even back then.

“It was impossible that was accidental,” he said.

On Monday, Montreal police announced the fatal fire has turned into a criminal investigation. They were able to rule out the accidental cause, as traces of accelerants were found on the scene.

READ: Old Montreal fire that killed seven people was criminal, accelerants found: police confirm

Brasseur lived in a third floor apartment for over 30 years and on March 16, to escape the flames, he jumped from a window.

“I almost died that morning,” he said. “I knew already that the same day that it was criminal.”

Flames ravaged the Place D’Youville apartment building on March 16. (Courtesy: Patrick Brasseur)

Police investigators identified an area where the fire started, and say the accelerants likely were the main factor in the quick spread of the fire in the heritage building.

“It was intentional,” said Brasseur.

He described hearing what sounded like a bomb when the fire broke out.

“Somebody threw something in the window because I looked  at my window and the fire was already it’s seems like it was an explosion,” he said.

Brasseur says there wasn’t a central alarm to advise the 22 people in the building. He saw the fire on his own and managed to find a way out.

“I was stuck in my apartment and I got attached to my air conditioning outside and waiting for some help because it was I could not stay in my apartment because the fire was coming,”

“I was cooking,” he said, as he pointed to some of his burns during an interview.

“The firefighter showed up with the kind of ladder and I just threw myself out.”

Brasseur was among the nine people injured.

“My eyes especially and my lungs and I have a few burns because of the ladder.”

We reached out to some of the seven victims’ family members. Many say they are still digesting the news or are legally advised not to speak out because of the impending $22-million class action lawsuit against the building’s owner, as he was illegally operating short-term rentals there.

Brasseur is now turning to the Crime Victims Assistance Centre for some aid.

“I lost everything, I’m living in the shelter right now,” he said “I don’t have any help from anybody.”

Brasseur says he wants to see criminal charges and accountability for the tragedy he replays in his mind every day, as he is now left without a home.

“I don’t work anymore,” he said. “I don’t have anything else other than my car.”