Fire suspect in Côte-des-Neiges: “We lost everything”

Zechariah Goudreault

Zechariah Goudreault

Sunday, 1 October, 2017 19:43

UPDATE
Sunday, 1 October, 2017 19:49

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MONTREAL | Number of tenants have tried in vain to have access to their homes to retrieve their personal property after a fire suspicious that destroyed a commercial building and residential in the neighborhood of Côte-des-Neiges, on Sunday.

Marine Fontaine and Victor Bruges, two students in their twenties, were installed in mid-August in one of the four units of this building of three floors, located on the chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, which is also home to two restaurants.

In the early afternoon, two young men came to see the damage caused by the flames. “I was asleep when Victor woke me up at about three o’clock in the morning. I am directly descended,” said Mr. Fountain, eyes reddened by lack of sleep, during the passage of 24 Hours on the location of the fire. “I heard screaming and an alarm. I headed down to the terrace and I saw flames,” completed Mr. Bruges.

In the emergency, the two students, who lived in the last floor of the building, have left everything behind them. “We don’t know, maybe I’ll be able to recover my money or my passport”, has launched Marine Fountain, which is unknown if his personal possessions are protected by insurance.

Fire suspect

The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) has been tasked to conduct an investigation into the causes of this event after witnesses claimed to have seen a suspect flee the scene at the time of the fire. According to preliminary information, the blaze would have taken birth in a recycling bin located at the rear of the building before spreading to the balconies. A security perimeter was erected around the building.

The canadian Red Cross has supported 14 Montrealer who lived in the four units of the building destroyed by the flames, said the communications officer of the organization, Myrian Marotte. The evacuees will be staying a few nights in different hotels in Montreal and will receive free food the time to find new housing, she added.

In all, 40 homes have been evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Marine Fontaine, meanwhile, intends to remain a few days among friends. “We have exams in two weeks, but we lost everything. We are going to live day by day”, he launched.