Four firefighters suffered injuries battling a five-alarm fire in Verdun.
The fire began on the rear balcony on the second floor of a building at De L'Eglise St. near Bannantyne Ave. around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Flames quickly spread to the third floor and the roof of the apartment building.
Six families living in the apartment building escaped safely, and the Red Cross will provide temporary shelter to the 12 people who will not be able to return home for several days.
The building was badly damaged, with the upper floors being burnt and the lower floors getting soaked.
Four firefighters were hurt while putting out the flames. One man fell and had something pierce his hand, while another fractured his foot. A third firefighter injured his hip and knee, while a fourth man hurt his pelvis when something fell on him.
None of the injuries are life-threatening and all were released from hospital by mid-morning.
The cause of the fire is not known.
This article has been updated.
