City asking for donations after major fire in Dorval, Que.
Montreal firefighters battled a four-alarm blaze spanning two residential buildings in Dorval Saturday afternoon.
First responders were called to the corner of Dawson Avenue and Garden Crescent around 1 p.m. The caller said they saw smoke billowing from a balcony on the third floor.
Large plumes of smoke surround an apartment building blaze in Dorval, Que. Saturday afternoon. (CTV News)
The cause of the fire isn't yet known. Fire Division Chief Marie-Eve Beausoleil says balcony fires typically start because of barbeque issues and unextinguished cigarette butts.
Flames spread from the balcony to the roof, and then expanded to the roof of the neighbouring residential building.
About 20 minutes after authorities got the call, dispatchers elevated the urgency to the four-alarm catagory, and more than 100 firefighters descended on the blaze.
Firefighters evactuated 32 apartments between the two buildings. Seven residents sustained injuries due to smoke inhalation.
The Red Cross was on site to provide temporary housing to evacuees. Eighteen families were relocated.
Firefighters say preliminary information suggests the fire was not criminal.
CITY CALLING FOR DONATIONS
The City of Dorval has put a call out for donations, which can be made at 1335 Lakeshore Road at room S-020. The city is asking for the following items:\
- Toilet paper
- Kleenex
- Soap (adults and kids)
- Shampoo (adults and kids)
- Toothpaste(adult and kids)
- Toothbrushes(adult and kids)
- School supplies
- Diapers/wipes
- Canned food or anything nonperishable
The city said it will not be accepting furniture, or large bags of clothing, and that updated lists of what is needed will be posted on its social media accounts.
Firefighters survey the damage after a major building fire in Dorval. (Lauren Fernandez/CTV News)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Henry Kissinger, American diplomat and Nobel winner, dies at 100
Henry Kissinger, a controversial Nobel Peace Prize winner and diplomatic powerhouse whose service under two presidents left an indelible mark on U.S. foreign policy, died on Wednesday at age 100, Kissinger Associates Inc said in a statement.
Ontario doctors disciplined over Israel-Gaza protests
A number of doctors are facing scrutiny for publicizing their opinions on the Israel-Hamas war. Critics say expressing their political views could impact patient care, while others say that it is being used as an excuse for censorship.
Here is what Canada's drug shortage situation looks like right now
Compared to the peak pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, Canada experienced an uptick in prescription drug shortages in 2022 that Health Canada says has continued throughout 2023.
'We wish we could've reached that kid earlier,' says online educator about boy's suicide after apparent sextortion
The chat may seem innocuous at first. The victims, often young men or boys, start communicating with someone posing as a young girl, typically on the popular social media platforms Instagram and Snapchat. But with sextortion, which occurs when people are blackmailed for money or sexual favours, 'sextorters' convince them to share a sexual photo or video.
'No concessions' St-Onge says in $100M a year news deal with Google
The Canadian government has reached a deal with Google over the Online News Act that will see the tech giant pay $100 million annually to publishers, and continue to allow access to Canadian news content on its platform. This comes after Google had threatened to block news on its platform when the contentious new rules come into effect next month.
Live updates Hamas frees 10 Israeli women and children, 4 Thai nationals
A group of 10 Israeli women and children and four Thai nationals have been handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross late Wednesday, the Israeli military said. The release was expected to be followed by Israel freeing 30 Palestinian prisoners. Two Russian-Israeli women were also freed in a separate release earlier Wednesday evening and have arrived back in Israel.
Provinces are moving away from pap smears, but more infrastructure is needed
Some provinces are moving to HPV tests as the primary mode of cervical cancer screening, and others are close behind, an expert says.
opinion Don Martin: With Trudeau resignation fever rising, a Conservative nightmare appears
With speculation rising that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will follow his father's footsteps in the snow to a pre-election resignation, political columnist Don Martin focuses on one Liberal cabinet minister who's emerging as leadership material -- and who stands out as a fresh-faced contrast to the often 'angry and abrasive' leader of the Conservatives.
Musk uses expletive to tell audience he doesn't care about advertisers that fled X over hate speech
Billionaire Elon Musk said Wednesday that advertisers who have halted spending on his social media platform X in response to antisemitic and other hateful material are engaging in "blackmail" and, using a profanity, essentially told them to go away.