fire

Five-alarm fire strikes NDG property

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

The Montreal Police arson squad is investigating the five-alarm fire that hit a vacant property on Robert Burns in CDN-NDG, off Côte Saint-Luc road Sunday morning. Area residents reported smoke rising from the three-storey building before 5 am, and firefighters arrived to begin battling the blaze.

Montreal police say that it was soon determined that the fire was deliberately set inside the building which has been vacant for two years.

As of 6 AM Sunday morning the neighborhood air was thick with the smell of smoke, which lingered until at least 9 PM Sunday night long after firefighters had left. At 10 pm Sunday police and fire investigators remained on scene inspecting the property.

The site is known for frequent incidents including vandalism, youth gathering on the roof, and pest issues.

Last summer several police cruisers chased a gang of teens through Côte Saint-Luc after they were spotted on the property reportedly attempting to light a fire. The teens scattered throughout the neighborhood eluding police officers who chased them in cars and on foot through parking lots and underground garages.

The property is also well known as the source of a local rat problem, with rodents seen daily scurrying across the pedestrian bridge over Côte Saint-Luc Road to feed on garbage bins on Adalbert, Earle, Ashdale, or south to the fields and Connaught, racing back to the property to nest.

The property is slated for demolition this year to make way for an 18-storey mixed commercial and residential building. The 120-kV overhead high-voltage line within the Hydro-Québec easement behind the building will also be replaced by a larger, 65-metre high pylon closer to the railway track to accommodate the city’s and Hydro’s 27-km green corridor.

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Three cars torched outside Ile-Bizard home

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Three vehicles were torched last Thursday in a residential parking lot in Île-Bizard.

Montreal police (SPVM) were alerted to the fire on Laurier Street, near Chevrier Boulevard at approximately 3:45 a.m.

A second 911 caller reported hearing an explosion near the same location shortly before officers arrived.

According to SPVM spokesperson Mariane Allaire-Morin, the officers immediately noticed a strong smell of accelerants emanating from three burning vehicles on arrival.

Firefighters were able to quickly put out the fire, avoiding damage to the home and neighbouring homes. Authorities say that the vehicles are considered a total loss.

Investigators determined the involvement of at least two suspects who were captured on surveillance cameras nearby.

The SPVM’s arson unit continued to investigate the scene in order to determine the circumstances surrounding the criminal fire.

No injuries were reported and no arrests have yet been made. n

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Explosive Blaze Devastates Popular Grocery Store and Mosque in Park Extension

Explosive Blaze Devastates Popular Grocery Store and Mosque in Park Extension

Dimitris Ilias-LJI Journalist

Early morning, on Friday the 26th of April, a significant three-alarm blaze ravaged BK Marché, a popular grocery store located in the Park Extension area. The fire reportedly started following an explosive sound heard by employees working the early shift, leading to a swift evacuation of the premises as smoke began to fill the structure. This incident not only impacted the grocery store but also extended to a mosque situated on the second floor of the same building.

The conflagration prompted immediate action from the emergency services, with approximately 90 firefighters arriving at the scene at the intersection of Jean Talon Street and Bloomfield Avenue shortly after 6 a.m. They battled the fire, which is believed to have originated in the building’s basement.

Fortunately, there were no reported injuries as residents of other units within the building were evacuated safely. The local community quickly gathered around the scene, showing solidarity and support for the grocery store owner during this distressing time. The store, which employs over 50 individuals, plays a significant role in the neighborhood.

As a precautionary measure and to facilitate emergency operations, Jean Talon Street was temporarily closed to vehicular traffic between L’Acadie Boulevard and Querbes Avenue throughout the morning.

Authorities, including the fire department, are still investigating to determine the exact cause of the fire. The closure of this central thoroughfare and the damage to the building has undoubtedly affected local traffic and businesses, underscoring the broader impact of such urban fires on community life and safety.

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