MONTREAL- The smell of smoke still lingered in a bungalow on De Mobile Street in Rosemont on Friday where city workers were wrapping up work on what’s left of the burned downed home.
Prompted by a neighbour’s call, about 30 firefighters arrived on scene at 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.
“This should give you an idea,” said nearby resident Jean-Pierre Ouellette, while showing the pictures he took of the fire. “There was an armada of vehicles.”
Cutting through the smoke, firefighters broke into the home where they found two people laying on the floor.
“They were unconscious, a manoeuvre was done on them, sadly they were deceased,” said Montreal Police spokesperson Andre Leclair.
A man and a woman in their 80s were pronounced dead at the scene.
The fire broke out in the basement and was sparked by an electrical panel failure.
Montreal police have now determined the fire was not suspicious but rather a tragic accident.
“However we’re still waiting for some results of expertise that’s going to be done,” said Leclair.
“Electrical engineers will also be needed here and they will study the electrical system.”
Neighbours we spoke to were shaken up by the news.
“It’s sad to die this way, really sad,” said a neighbour whose daughter also lives two houses away from the fire.
“My condolences to the family,” said a visibly upset Jean-Pierre Ouellette.
An autopsy will be performed on the bodies next week to determine the cause of death.
In the meantime the Montreal Fire Department is urging people to take precautions.
“Keep the electrical panels clear of any combustible object; at least three feet,” said Benoit Brouillard, of the Montreal Fire Department.
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