Three Years After Deadly Old Montreal Fire, Crown Prosecutor Hints at Coming Developments
Three years after a historic building was engulfed in flames in Old Montreal, resulting in the tragic deaths of seven individuals, Quebec's Crown prosecutor's office has indicated that "developments are expected soon" in the ongoing criminal investigation. However, the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP) has clarified that it currently has no information to share publicly at this time.
Advanced Analysis and Frustrated Families
Patricia Johnson, a spokesperson for the DPCP, stated in an email at the end of February that "the analysis of the file is advanced." The DPCP is the agency responsible for laying charges in criminal cases. Despite this progress, families of the victims continue to express profound frustration over the slow pace of the investigation.
"To this date, there continues to be great frustration, no doubt also on the part of all families who have suffered, that the courts and police have made essentially zero progress in three years," said Randy Sears, father of victim Nathan Sears, in an email to The Gazette. "We have not heard from any source whether steps, if any, have been taken to eliminate, or mitigate, these types of events from ever happening again."
The Tragic Incident and Its Aftermath
The five-alarm fire broke out on the morning of March 16, 2023, at the corner of Du Port St. and Place d'Youville. It claimed the lives of seven people and injured nine others, most of whom were travelers staying in Airbnbs. The victims included:
- Nathan Sears, 35, an academic visiting for a conference
- An Wu, 31, another academic in Montreal for a conference
- Tourists Dania Zafar, 31, and Saniya Khan, 31
- Charlie Lacroix, 18, and Walid Belkahla, 18, visitors from Terrebonne
- Camille Maheux, 76, a renowned photographer who lived in the building
A coroner's inquest into the deaths remains paused pending the findings of the Montreal police's criminal investigation.
Short-Term Rental Safety Concerns
The fatal blaze raised serious questions about short-term rental safety, fire regulations, and enforcement. Following the fire, it was revealed that past guests had attempted to raise safety concerns with Airbnb, including issues with windowless lofts and sealed windows. The city and province subsequently cracked down on short-term rentals, which were not permitted in Old Montreal at the time of the fire.
New regulations now require proof of a Corporation de l'industrie touristique du Québec (CITQ) permit to operate an Airbnb, with permits only granted if properties adhere to local regulations. However, Yaya Baumann, a lecturer at Université de Montréal who developed the Airbnb monitoring platform À bas Airbnb, noted that "the situation, unfortunately, is kind of the same as it was three years ago."
Baumann explained that hosts often find loopholes, such as using the same CITQ number for multiple properties, and that there are currently just under 700 illegal Airbnb listings in the city. He emphasized that safety is compromised because tourists have limited recourse compared to long-term tenants, who can organize against negligent landlords.
Fire Safety Violations and Subsequent Blaze
Fire department inspection reports obtained after the fire showed the building had multiple code violations over the years, including blocked and "dead-end" secondary exits. The building's owner, lawyer Emile Benamor, was repeatedly contacted about these violations, but documents did not indicate whether they were corrected.
In a tragic turn of events, another building owned by Benamor—a 20-room hostel—was set on fire in October 2024, killing Léonor Yvonne Geraudie, 43, and her seven-year-old daughter, Vérane Reynaud-Geraudie. Two men were arrested and charged with second-degree murder in that case. The fire department stated it believed the building was up to code at the time.
In spring 2025, Benamor was found guilty of failing to ensure a Notre-Dame-de-Grâce property had functional emergency exits, with the inspection occurring just a week after the Old Montreal fire.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigations
Families of the victims have filed multi-million-dollar lawsuits against various parties, with some documents being withheld until the criminal investigation concludes. "Every time we come up to this anniversary, it's really tough for these people," said lawyer Annette Lefebvre, who represents six of the seven victims' families. "(The victims) were young people in the prime of their lives. It has been a really painful process for the families, just to see how long this takes."
Depositions for these cases are scheduled to begin in fall 2026. Meanwhile, the 2023 fire was deemed arson in August of that year after investigators found traces of an accelerant, with a later report revealing it started with gasoline in a basement stairwell.
The Montreal police declined interview requests ahead of the third anniversary, citing the Crown's intention to share developments soon. Lucas Bastien, a DPCP spokesperson, stated, "Prosecutors make sure to keep victims and their loved ones informed of the progress of the case, but we are aware that the wait remains difficult for them."
As the community marks three years since the tragedy, the promise of developments offers a glimmer of hope for closure, though the prolonged investigation continues to weigh heavily on all affected.
