Public inquiry ordered into Old Montreal fire that killed mom, daughter

Quebec’s chief coroner is launching a public inquiry into the deaths of a mother and daughter in a fire that ripped through a century-old building in Old Montreal last week.

Montreal police identified French national Léonor Geraudie, 43, and her seven-year-old daughter Vérane Reynaud Geraudie as the two victims killed in the blaze last Friday. Their bodies were removed from the scene that evening.

Police say the other 23 people believed to be in the building on Notre-Dame Street East when the flames broke out all made it out while one person remained in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. A criminal investigation is underway.

The coroner’s office announced the inquiry Tuesday, saying it comes following a request by Quebec’s Public Security Minister François Bonnardel.

Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante said in a message posted on social media that the city and its services will fully cooperate with the inquiry, adding everything must be done to shed light on the tragedy.

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Coroner Géhane Kamel, who is already presiding over a separate coroner’s inquiry into the March 2023 fire that killed seven people in Old Montreal, will lead the inquest.

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The coroner’s office said given that the two inquiries will focus on similar facts, Kamel could eventually combine the two. Bonnardel had said his office was in talks with the coroner to find ways of expediting inquests into both fatal fires over the weekend.

City property records show the building at 400 Notre-Dame St. E. was built in 1923 and belongs to Émile Benamor, the same owner of a heritage building nearby on Place D’Youville that went up in flames in March 2023.

Multiple lawsuits were filed in the aftermath of the Place D’Youville fire and the coroner’s inquest is on hold until the conclusion of the police investigation and any potential criminal trials.

Police won’t discuss potential causes, suspect

Montreal police said its examination of the scene in Old Montreal was wrapped up by Tuesday afternoon and the “premises were then returned to the owner.”

The police department’s major crimes division and arson unit will continue their investigation but authorities said they will not publicly discuss details about possible causes or the search for a suspect at this time.

Police said a special hotline for victims of the fire will be deactivated since investigators are in contact with them.

Anyone with information about the deadly blaze  is asked to contact police. They can also do so anonymously and confidentially through Info-Crime Montreal at 514-393-1133 or on the website.

— with files from The Canadian Press