One week later: Rescuers continue search for victims in rubble of Old Montreal fire
It's been one week since a devastating fire tore through a historic building in Old Montreal, killing at least four.
Rescuers are continuing their search for additional victims on Thursday. Three people are still missing, although officials say it's possible there are more.
Only one victim has been identified so far: 76-year-old Camille Maheux, a photographer whose images have been featured in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and National Gallery of Canada. She lived in the building for roughly 30 years.
Her body was the first to be discovered, pulled from the wreckage on Sunday.
"We will not provide further details on her death, really out of respect for her family and loved ones and to preserve the confidentiality of the police investigation," said police Insp. David Shane at a Thursday morning press briefing.
The other bodies, one found on Tuesday and two on Wednesday, have yet to be identified.
A photo of Camille Maheux, 76, at a memorial at the Place d'Youville building in Old Montreal. Police said Wednesday she is the first victim to be identified from the deadly fire. (CTV News)
The origins of the fire that ravaged the building on Port Street and Place d'Youville, built in 1890, remain unknown. Police say they're gathering evidence while they search for bodies.
On Wednesday, technicians removed much of the building's roof, allowing better access to the floors below. Thursday's action plan includes the addition of a second crane, meant to speed up the dismantling process.
"The plan is to take debris and put it on the second crane," explained fire operations chief Martin Guilbault.
Rescuers employed the use of a second crane on March 23, 2023 to speed up their search for victims of a fire in Old Montreal. (CTV News/Olivia O'Malley)
Some of the units in the building were illegal Airbnbs, which are outlawed in that part of the city. The fire has raised concerns over unlicensed short-term rentals in Montreal.
In the wake of the tragedy, city administrators vowed to establish a team of investigators tasked with cracking down on illegal Airbnbs by June.
Officials say those missing after the fire are from Quebec, Ontario and the U.S.
Family and friends have identified some of the missing, including friends Saniya Khan and Dania Zafar, both 31, who were in Montreal for a trip.
An Wu, 31, a neuroscientist working in California who was in Montreal for a conference, has also been reported missing by loved ones.
Charlie Lacroix, 18, was also identified as one of the potential victims by her father and had rented an Airbnb with a friend. According to her father, Lacroix told 911 operators she was trapped in a room with no fire escape or windows.
On Thursday morning, David Shane announced that the daily 8 a.m. press briefings would be streamed on the SPVM website so families could follow along.
The briefings can be accessed here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Statistics Canada reports real GDP up 0.6% in January as Quebec strikes end
Statistics Canada says real gross domestic product grew 0.6 per cent in January, helped by the end of public sector strikes in Quebec in November and December.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Ukrainian child asylum seekers in St. John’s get class of their own
Roughly 50 children will gathered in a St. John’s classroom for the first time on Saturday for unique lessons on Ukrainian language, culture and history.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.