Number of fires in Montreal remained stable in 2025

The Montreal Fire Department (SIM) reported a stable trend for fires in 2025, but a slight increase in fires outside buildings was observed, and SIM director Richard Liebmann attributed it to encampments for homeless people present throughout the city. 

During the public presentation of his organization’s 2025 activity report, he explained that these fires are often minor, and that prevention efforts are being made within the camps to prevent them, in conjunction with the Montreal Police (SPVM) and community organizations. “It’s a major challenge for us,” he stated.

The total volume of SIM interventions increased by 8 per cent compared to 2024, amounting to 140,406 for 2025. Of this number, 60 per cent corresponded to interventions as first responders, also an increase compared to last year, and explained by the aging of the population and the increase in chronic diseases, according to Liebmann.

Most of the fires were accidental, but the service’s prevention efforts have paid off, as an improvement in smoke detector compliance has been observed, although 17 per cent of homes in the area still lack them.

Severe cold, spring floods, extreme heat, smog: responding to climate-related emergencies has become a prevalent reality for the Montreal Fire Department (SIM). The department noted that its civil security plan had to be activated 14 times in 2025.

The health and safety of firefighters

In 2025, the SIM notably added 11 firefighters and 5 people to the technical services division to carry out the decontamination of combat clothing and personal protective equipment. 

“As you know, we have major challenges with cancer prevention, we are putting a lot of energy and resources into it,” Liebmann stated. 

In 2022, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified firefighting as a known human carcinogen. 

Health Canada’s website indicates that firefighters have a 9 per cent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer, and a 14 per cent higher risk of dying from cancer than members of the general public.

During the question period, the president of the Montreal Firefighters Association (APM), Chris Ross, asked Liebmann if phases 2 and 3 of this action plan would follow to ensure the safety of its members. 

“My members are required to undress in the middle of the street, including when it is -40 outside, to undress in their boxers, to put their contaminated equipment in a bag, to bring it back to the station to wash and dry it once, to put it back in a bag and send it to a SIM washing centre to wash it a second time,” he illustrated, calling the situation nonsensical. 

This nonsense, explains Ross, also increases the risk of firefighters being exposed to contaminants and cross-contamination of SIM premises and vehicles. 

Richard Liebmann tried to reassure him, stating that health and safety were absolute priorities for him. “The investment is in place. We haven’t yet started work on phase 2, which involves finding alternative solutions to combat gear, especially for interventions other than fires and winter periods, but I can assure you that the APM will be involved in these efforts.”

The Montreal Fire Department (SIM), in collaboration with the Montreal Fire Department (APM) and the Health and Safety Division, also published a guide for physicians to inform them of the health risks to which firefighters are exposed and to improve the detection of health problems prevalent in the profession. This guide was shared with all firefighters in Quebec. 

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews