MONTREAL – It took over 100 firefighters to put out a fire at a building on St. Laurent Boulevard in Little Italy, between Bélanger and Dante streets.
The fire broke out in the apartments above Milano’s grocery store Saturday afternoon.
“Just trucks everywhere … I can’t even explain the feeling, especially in the community, you see people you know – it’s just totally sad,” said Massimo Tenaglia, who works at a restaurant across the street.
The owner of the building told Global News six apartments were lost in the fire, leaving seven people homeless.
They’ve all been put up in a hotel by the Red Cross.
On Sunday afternoon, their neighbours said they feel lucky.
“I’m lucky because I still have everything,” Beatrice Munetonez said.
“My apartment is fine, we didn’t lose anything at all. But my neighbours, they had no insurance and they lost everything — their home is completely burned.”
Also feeling lucky is 82-year-old Pierino Di Tonno.
READ MORE: Community rallies behind 82-year-old faced with eviction
Global News first spoke to him in March, about the possibility that he and his work would be evicted from the apartment he’s lived in for almost 40 years.
READ MORE: Montreal senior who faced home eviction can stay for another year: Quebec Rental Board
The day after the fire, he said he feels grateful that both he and his photos are safe.
“You have only a little bit of marks in my room here, but I think the photos are OK,” he said.
“I got a second chance in my life.”
Meanwhile, Sunday morning, clients of the popular store were stunned to find their go-to place for groceries taped off.
The store is said to have suffered water damage.
It’s not known how long it will be closed.