Major fire in Anjou apartment building, one dead

A significant fire broke out Tuesday morning in Montreal’s Anjou borough, prompting authorities to issue warnings for residents to avoid the area.

The death of one person was confirmed to CityNews on Wednesday, in connection to this event.

The fire, which started around 9:53 a.m. in a three-floor apartment building at the intersection of Place d’Antioche and Saint-Zotique Street, quickly escalated.

Four residents were reported injured and taken to hospital, including a 78-year-old woman in critical condition.

Montreal police say a 79-year-old man was also seriously injured, but is expected to survive.

As well, a firefighter was taken to hospital as a preventative measure.

“We got a call approximately 9:53 a.m. this morning for a fire in one of the apartment units in the building, which spread very quickly, quickly went up to a fifth alarm, which is a general alarm,” said Guy Lapointe, division chief of the Montreal Fire department (SIM).

“At the peak of the invention, we had about 125 firefighters fighting the blaze. We had five people who were evacuated, taken in charge by Urgences-santé. We had one fireman who was taken preventatively to the hospital to make sure everything was all right.” 

Six ambulances were sent to the scene.

Around 35 people, including children, were affected by the fire, according to Anjou borough communications officer Ysabel Rodriguez.

Around 30 families were taken in by the Red Cross to the Roger-Rousseau community centre where victims are being provided food and a warm place to stay in the aftermath of the fire.

“Our priority is to provide a warm and safe place for the Red Cross to offer its services and to accompany these people so that they don’t end up on the street,” said Rodriguez in an email. She added that the centre is open to families that want to come later in the day.

The fire was considered under control just after 2 p.m.

The cause of the blaze is still not known, but an investigation by Montreal police is underway.

As well, the Coroner’s Office confirms that they are also investigating and a report will eventually be released that may contain recommendations if deemed appropriate – “preventive measures designed to protect human life and avoid deaths in similar circumstances. The coroner’s investigative process is confidential until the final report, which is public.”