Police in Montreal are currently investigating an overnight fire that occurred in an unoccupied building in Old Montreal. The blaze began around 8 p.m. on Friday and required over 150 firefighters to contain. According to Montreal Police spokeswoman Const. Jeanne Drouin, the fire has been brought under control as of this morning, but firefighters are continuing to spray water on the building to prevent any potential flare-ups.
Although the cause of the fire is still unknown, investigators from the arson squad have been present at the scene since late this morning. Municipal tax records indicate that the building was constructed in 1950, while its facade dates back to 1891. Interestingly, a real estate brochure from 2022 revealed that the building was listed on the market for $10 million and was marketed as a lucrative redevelopment opportunity.