MONTREAL – The arson squad is investigating a deadly blaze at a duplex on 49th Street near Ovila Légaré Street in Saint-Michel.
A neighbour living across the street alerted the fire department at 8:14 a.m. Sunday.
The first firemen arrived at the scene at 8:21 a.m. and observed smoke coming out of a second-floor window.
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A family of four was safely evacuated from a residence on the first floor of the building and three other people were found unconscious in a smoke-filled home on the second floor.
The three victims were taken to hospital in critical condition.
Montreal police have confirmed that a 69-year-old woman and a 9-year-old girl died of their injuries. The other victim, a 70-year-old man, remains in critical condition.
It took 60 firefighters just over an hour to bring the blaze under control.
According to Louise Desrosiers with the Montreal fire department, firefighters responding to the blaze did not detect the sound of a functioning smoke detector.
She added that the tragedy should serve as a reminder to make sure you have working smoke detectors in your home.
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