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2 dead after fire rips through historic building in Old Montreal

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At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building near Montreal's City Hall, sources told Noovo Info.

The fire started at 400 Notre-Dame St. East near Bonsecours Street in Old Montreal.

A four-storey building with a wine bar on the ground floor was engulphed in flames in the historic Old Montreal neighbourhood on Oct. 4, 2024. (Julia Guo Mailhot)

At around 2:30 a.m. on Friday morning, Amanda Kozutsky was awoken from her stay in the building by a fire alarm.

She rushed from the building unable to collect anything she brought with her.

"All of the belongings I brought with me were destroyed tonight in the fire," she posted on X.

She said she booked the room on Airbnb.

Firefighters put out a blaze in Old Montreal on Oct. 4, 2024. (Cosmo Santamaria, CTV News)

According to the City of Montreal property records, the building was built in 1923 and is believed to have belonged to Emile Benamor, who also owned the heritage building on Place D'Youville that was destroyed by fire in March 2023. Montreal police have deemed that fire, which killed seven people, to be a criminal. 

On Friday, the Montreal fire department (SIM) issued a fourth alarm at 2:48 a.m. and a fifth alarm just before 3:30 a.m. for the building on Notre-Dame. Montreal police (SPVM) were soon on the scene to close streets and direct traffic.

Firefighters battle a fire in Old Montreal on Friday, Oct.4, 2024. Montreal police are investigating a major fire that broke out early this morning in a century-old building in Old Montreal, leaving at least one person in hospital. (Ryan Remiorz, The Canadian Press)

Authorities told CTV News that at least three people were injured in the blaze and one was in critical condition early in the morning.

Multiple dwellings were evacuated and the Red Cross is on the scene caring for those forced from the buildings.

The Loam wine bar is on the ground floor of the building with apartment units on the other three floors of the building.

With files from CTV News Montreal's Matt Gilmour, Noovo Info, and The Canadian Press

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