Two people died in a fire that broke out in a triplex in Montreal North Wednesday night.
The victims were a 37-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman.
The two people were taken out of the apartment at 11957 Matte St., near Maurice-Duplessis Blvd., by firefighters who attempted to resuscitate the pair.
The fire started on the top floor of the apartment. By all accounts, the blaze seemed to have spread quickly, trapping the two victims inside.
According to Richard Morin who witnessed the incident, flames were already shooting through the roof by the time firefighters arrived on scene.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders, while the woman was pronounced dead by doctors after being rushed to hospital.
The two victims died due to smoke and severe burns, said Urgences-Santé spokesperson Bob Lemle.
A witness told Giroux the bodies were burned beyond recognition.
A third person was also treated by paramedics. That person was a family member who did not live with the pair, and was treated for shock.
The names of the victims have not yet been released.
Police are still trying to determine the cause.
The building’s landlords Irini Isufaj and Maksim Zenelaj were shaken by the tragedy. They say each apartment had a working smoke detector, including the third floor, where the couple moved in about a year ago.
Police couldn’t confirm whether the building had smoke detectors or if they were working.
In March 2013, a fire claimed the life of a four-year-old girl on that same street.
She had hidden underneath a bed. There were no smoke detectors in that building.
Contractor Gino Violante says he too witnessed an increase in the number of apartment fires in Montreal North.
“We're very busy this year,” he said. “Lots of fires in the area.”
-- with files from CTV Montreal
