MONTREAL – Police are investigating after a fire in an apartment block in Montreal’s Notre-Dame-de-Grace neighbourhood took the lives of two young victims.
The fire killed one man, and a woman who was in critical condition following the fire succumbed to her injuries later Friday.
Firefighters were called to the three-storey building near the corner of St-Jacques Street and Old Orchard Avenue at around 4 a.m. on Friday.
“I heard a big bang in the back,” neighbour Marie-Josee Deziel said.
“The firefighters woke me up and said ‘We have to evacuate right now.'”
Two other adults in their 20s required medical treatment for minor burns, but their lives were not considered to be in danger.
About 50 residents were evacuated from the apartment and surrounding buildings.
“People really suffered,” neighbour Matvey Lomonosov told Global News. “A person died.”
A man in his twenties was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital, after first responders had struggled to revive him.
They managed to resuscitate an 18-year-old woman, who was suffering from cardiac arrest. She died later in hospital.
The victims have been identified as Luke Rachwalski and Sarah Hassane.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
Damage has been estimated at $100,000.
Police did confirm that there were traces of a grow-op in the basement.
The investigation has been turned over to Montreal’s arson squad, who will investigate the cause and determine how the fire began.
Sun Youth is working with the Red Cross to supply the victims left homeless by the fire with emergency clothing and help finding temporary housing.
Note: The story has been updated to include the names and correct ages of the victims.
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