About 40 people are homeless after fire destroyed their ten-unit condo development in Brossard.
It happened Wednesday night on Stravinski near Rome boulevard.
Firefighters were called to the scene after witnesses reported seeing flames jutting from the roof of the three-story building.
Ironically, it may have been an attempt to keep warm that started the blaze because the fire department believes the fire started in the chimney.
10 condo suites in the building were all gutted and a neighbour says a young couple, new to Canada, lived in one of the condos.
"The guy who lived there was originally from Colombia," said Jean Dore.
"He told me that he didn't have insurance."
Elements hamper efforts
Firefighters had to fight the elements along with the flames.
Witnesses say firefighters seemed to struggle with their hoses for about a half hour before the water finally stopped freezing, and started running.
Two of the 50 firefighters on hand were injured after slipping on frozen debris.
