Chelsey St. Pierre – The Suburban LJI Reporter

Firefighters responded to a three-alarm fire at the Collins Clarke funeral home located at the corner of Cartier Avenue and Highway 20 in Pointe-Claire last Wednesday.

Smoke from the blaze was pushed east by the 20 km per hour wind. Dark smoke was visible for several kilometres, as far as Dorval Avenue.

According to Montreal fire department department spokesperson Francis Fleury, the two-storey building was occupied and all occupants were safely evacuated.

Seventy firefighters were deployed in 30 fire trucks to contain the building that was visibly engulfed in flames and significantly damaged.

One firefighter was reported injured.

“His injuries were treated by first responders on site. He was not transported to the hospital,” Fleury told The Suburban.

Four Bronco sky-lifts were strategically situated at different angles. The two closest to the building were operated by firefighter duos. At one point the two-person operated sky-lifts became invisible, surrounded by smoke for nearly 10 minutes.

The cause of the fire still has not been determined. n