In a distressing turn of events, the Montreal police’s arson squad is once again at the scene of a fire at a commercial building on Saint-Denis Street, located near Highway 40. This marks the second suspicious fire at the same location within just under a year.

Emergency responders received the alarm shortly after 8:45 p.m. on Saturday night and rushed to the scene south of Cremezie Boulevard. According to SPVM spokesperson Jean-Pierre Brabant, firefighters had successfully contained the fire by the time police arrived.

Eyewitness accounts and tangible evidence led authorities to escalate the investigation to the arson squad. “It seems that one or more suspects were observed committing a break-and-enter in the building,” Brabant noted. Disturbingly, the officers found an accelerant on-site, indicating the fire was deliberately set. The suspects managed to flee before law enforcement or fire personnel arrived, leaving behind significant damage but, fortunately, no injuries.

This incident is not isolated; it’s the second fire at this address in less than a year. Back in May, a similar scene unfolded as authorities responded to the building ablaze, which resulted from an incendiary device being thrown through a window. That incident had only caused minor damage, but it still raised alarms about the safety and security of the area.

As the investigation unfolds, police are urging anyone with information to come forward. Could this pattern of arson be more than a coincidence? If you live in or around the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough, stay vigilant! Local officials are working tirelessly to ensure the safety of the community and to catch those responsible for these alarming acts.

Stay tuned for updates as this ongoing investigation could reveal critical insights into a troubling string of incidents that have left Montreal residents on edge.