5-alarm fire in Montreal’s Old Port sends 1 to hospital with severe burns
According to officials, the fire started inside the ground-level restaurant on Notre-Dame Street East just after 2:40 a.m.
A significant fire in Montreal’s Old Port early Friday morning has left one person hospitalized as firefighters spent hours containing the blaze.
Officials reported that the fire broke out around 2:40 a.m. inside a ground-level restaurant on Notre-Dame Street East. The flames quickly spread through the three-storey building, prompting the evacuation of at least two people. One individual suffered severe burns and was taken to the hospital.
The second and third floors of the building housed rental apartments. Over 125 firefighters were dispatched to tackle the five-alarm fire. Due to concerns about the building’s structural stability, crews have not yet been able to enter.
A portion of the historic building partially collapsed during the firefighting efforts. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
According to the city’s building registry, Emile Benamour owns the property. Benamour also owned the Airbnb building involved in a tragic fire in March 2023, which resulted in the deaths of seven people.
Montreal police will be leading the investigation. A security perimeter has been established, and police will maintain a command post at the scene.
