Montreal firefighters were busy on Sunday morning, responding to two separate fires that broke out in residential apartment buildings in different boroughs. Authorities have confirmed that no injuries were reported in either incident.
Fire in Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie
The first emergency call came in at 8:15 a.m. for a fire at a three-storey building located on Place Basile-Patenaude in the Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie borough. According to Montreal fire chief Patrick Fournel, the building contained 16 units.
A significant force of 50 firefighters was dispatched to the scene. They managed to bring the single-alarm blaze, which originated on the building's first floor, under control within an hour.
The fire's impact led to the temporary closure of one lane on Dandurand Street between Iberville Street and 1st Avenue. Montreal police assisted with redirecting traffic until the security perimeter was lifted and the street reopened.
Chief Fournel stated that one family residing on the first floor required relocation due to damage sustained by their apartment. Fortunately, all other residents were permitted to return to their homes. An investigation by fire department inspectors is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Second Blaze in Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
Later that morning, at 9:50 a.m., a second fire was reported at a three-storey apartment building on Barclay Avenue near Wilderton Avenue in the Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough. This building contained 10 units.
Fire crews worked for one hour and 25 minutes to fully extinguish this fire. Reiterating the positive outcome from the earlier incident, Chief Fournel confirmed that there were no injuries. All tenants of this building were able to safely return to their apartments after the fire was put out.
Community Impact and Investigation
The simultaneous fires tested the response capabilities of the Montreal fire department across the city. The swift action of firefighters prevented any loss of life or serious injury, though the event underscores the ever-present risk of residential fires.
The incident in Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie resulted in a tangible disruption for one family, who face the challenge of temporary displacement. The cause of both fires remains unknown, with official investigations now focused on determining the origins to prevent future occurrences.
