Sunday evening was a restless one for the responders at the Montreal Fire department, who received three separate emergency calls in less than an hour.
At 6:05 p.m. firefighters arrived on-scene to a three-floor residential building on Evelyn St. in Verdun. A fire that began in a backyard spread horizontally and engulfed both the building and its neighbouring structures. Four apartments were vacated and families were taken into the care of the Red Cross. No one was injured.
Firefighters said the blaze spread quickly, ultimately causing over $100,000 worth of damage to the building. Pedestrians near the scene were making it difficult for responders to act effectively, since many of them were reportedly standing near the blaze, trying to film or photograph it.
Montreal firefighters want to take the opportunity to remind citizens that these operations are dangerous, and rescue workers need their space to do their job.
The second fire took place at 6:45 p.m. in a 14-story building on Bord-du-Lac in Pointe Claire. They believe that fire began on the rooftop terrasse of the building-- a location that's becoming more and more common as a firestarter. The building was evacuated, and no one was injured. However, the structure sustained thousands of dollars worth of damage, primarily on the roof.
The third incident was at an apartment complex on 7th Avenue in Lachine around 8:55 p.m., and began in a basement unit.
Firefighters say it was a cooking fire, and that it was not suspicious. No one was injured.
