Smoky fire at Montreal East End metal recycling yard
Posted April 23, 2026 6:56 am.
Last Updated April 23, 2026 2:40 pm.
A smoky fire at a metal recycling yard in Montreal’s East End drew a large emergency response early Thursday as firefighters work to contain the blaze.
The fire broke out around 5:20 a.m. at a commercial building near Henri-Bourassa Boulevard East and Rodolphe-Forget Boulevard, sending thick smoke into the surrounding area.
Officials say the cause is likely a battery igniting scrap metal.
Quebec’s Environment Ministry says a team from Urgence-Environnement was on site to check the air quality measurements. The ministry has so far issued no evacuation or confinement notice.
Authorities say only scrap metal is burning, with no hazardous materials involved. A plume of white smoke briefly drifted south before dissipating, though odours have been reported in western Montreal and parts of Montérégie.
Santé Montréal issued a notice on social media warning that the fire was affecting air quality.
Officials say a mobile laboratory has been deployed to the area to attempt to determine the risk caused by the fire.
Gabrielle Rousseau-Bélanger, a member of Montreal’s executive committee responsible for the environment, ecological transition and green spaces, said the city identified concerning emissions linked to the company’s operations.
“It was found that there are PCB emissions in the air, which should not occur under the conditions of their permit,” said Rousseau-Bélanger. “We worked to maintain dialogue with the company to ensure compliance. We reached out multiple times and exhausted all options. At this point, we’ve reached the stage where permits must be revoked, because citizen safety is our priority.”
“There are also regulatory standards involved. We’ve observed releases of PCBs and metals.”
She added the company’s recent permit application did not meet the city’s requirements.
“In their recent unified permit application, their claims did not align with the compliance requirements we imposed,” she said.
Rousseau-Bélanger said authorities are continuing to track the situation closely.
About 55 firefighters are on the scene and 24 firetrucks. Heavy smoke is coming from the site and causing traffic around the plant. Officials say no injuries have been reported.
Firefighting water is being contained on site, and a recovery team is en route to handle cleanup.
The City of Montreal has revoked operating permits for American Iron and Metal Company Inc. (AIM) after repeated air quality violations, including excessive emissions of PCBs, particulate matter and metals such as arsenic measured at the site’s boundary.
The city says despite years of warnings and requests to comply with environmental regulations, the company failed to present an adequate plan or install equipment to properly capture and treat pollutants, while independent studies confirmed a direct link between AIM’s operations and the contamination.
The city says the decision follows a long process beginning in 2024, with ongoing exceedances, including some far above legal limits, leading the city to conclude that suspensions alone were insufficient and full permit revocation was necessary to protect public health.
“Our responsibility is to protect the public,” said Jim Beis, a member of Montreal’s executive committee responsible for security and prevention. “This was not a decision taken lightly, it has been in the works for some time. What happened today is a coincidence. Meanwhile, civil security teams are on site assessing the situation and providing updates. Our responsibility is to act, and that’s what we’ve been doing for some time.”
CityNews reached out to American Iron & Metal for comment but have not heard back yet.
