Montreal arson squad investigating second fire in building that was set ablaze under a year ago

For the second time in under a year, the Montreal police’s (SPVM) arson squad is investigating a fire in a commercial space on Saint-Denis Street near Highway 40.

Police and firefighters responded to the call around 8:45 p.m. on Saturday night and went to the location on St. Denis Street just south of Cremezie Boulevard.

SPVM spokesperson Jean-Pierre Brabant said that the fire department had the blaze under control when police arrived, and that witnesses and information from the scene led the fire department to transfer the file to the arson squad.

“It seems that one or more suspects were seen doing a break and entering in that building,” said Brabant, adding that an accelerant was found on the scene.

The suspects fled the scene before firefighters or police arrived.

There was heavy damage to the space, but no injuries reported.

The investigation is ongoing.

Second fire in a year

It is the second time in under a year that the same address has been targetted by a fire bomb. 

Montreal police are investigating after an incendiary device was thrown through the window of a building in the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough. (Pedro Querido/CTV News)

In May, authorities responded after the building was on fire. 

There was minor damage reported but a window was smashed by an incendiary object which was thrown through it.