A fire on the site of the Notre-Dame camp forced the intervention of Montreal firefighters on Wednesday, two days after a partial dismantling which left its mark in the metropolis.
Posted at 10:32 a.m.
Updated at 11:20 a.m.
This was indicated at the start of the day by the Montreal Fire Safety Service (SIM). The fire occurred in a tent, not far from the intersection of Moreau and Notre-Dame streets.
A second incident was first reported to 911 at the corner of Davidson and Notre-Dame, in a garbage bin, but ultimately did not turn up, firefighters later confirmed.
At the passage of The Pressin the morning, flames were very noticeable near the tent located in the first sector. However, firefighters had just arrived on the scene to control the blaze, which was done very quickly, according to the SIM.
PHOTO FANNIE ARCAND, THE PRESS
The remains of the fire that occurred Wednesday morning at the Notre-Dame camp
According to our information, the fire was caused by a fondue stove which was lit in the tent by the person who was there, with flammable liquid. There are currently tents set up in around fifteen places on the camp site.
Fortunately, no people were injured during this event. The fire also did not spread to other tents, other facilities or trees.
In the office of Mayor Valérie Plante, the reaction was quick. “Our concerns regarding the security problems of camps in public spaces were confirmed again this morning. With the cold weather, public health must work to quickly open warmth centers and shelter places. […] We cannot risk reliving new fires,” said the press officer, Simon Charron.
This all comes while on Monday, three specific locations in the camp had been dismantled, even though camps have been scattered for several months over a distance of 3.5 km, along Notre-Dame Street, with a greater concentration near the Morgan Park.
In the early morning, demonstrators came to the scene to strongly denounce this dismantling, which was carried out under the surveillance of the SPVM riot squad.
According to the Ministry of Transport, two people were still on site when the teams responsible for the operation arrived, the others having already left the scene. A woman living south of Morgan Park also refused to leave her tent, but then decided to pick up some of her belongings.
“No alternative is offered to the people who lose their tents this morning, because there is no place anywhere,” lamented Me Donald Tremblay, general director of the Traveling Legal Clinic (CJI), who had managed to obtain a stay on the date of the expulsion – it was initially scheduled to take place on November 21.
With Isabelle Ducas, The Press
