Montreal firefighters respond to three overnight fires

MONTREAL – Firefighters were kept busy Thursday morning after three fires were called in.

Manuel Couture, a spokesperson for the Montreal police, confirmed around 1:15 a.m. emergency crews were called to a criminal fire at a restaurant on Saint-Michel boulevard near Champdoré street.

Firefighters were able to limit the damage to the restaurant and quickly extinguish the blaze.

Residents in the 12 apartments above the establishment were evacuated as a precaution.

According to police, witnesses saw two people throwing what appeared to be a molotov cocktail through a broken window.

The arson squad has been called to the scene.

There were no injuries.

Just before 4 a.m., firefighters were called to a restaurant in the Rosemont-Petite-Patrie borough after a kitchen fire was started at Elio Pizzeria.

The restaurant, located on Bellechasse street and Drolet street, is a 50-year-old family-owned Italian eatery.

A janitor saw the fire and quickly called 911.

Police inspected the building and believe the blaze was caused by an electrical fault in the kitchen.

There were no injuries and officials say they believe it was an accident.

A minor fire at a three-storey boarding house on Montcalm street was also called in to police.

No one was hurt.