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
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.