MONTREAL

In a heartbreaking tragedy, a mother and her seven-year-old daughter from France lost their lives in a devastating fire that consumed a historic building in Old Montreal early Friday morning. Major crimes detectives alongside the arson investigation unit are currently probing the incident, which has been labeled “suspicious.”

Authorities have identified the victims as Léonor Geraudie, 43, and her daughter, Vérane Reynaud Geraudie. The grim news was shared by Montreal police inspector David Shane at a press briefing held near the blaze's site.

“Please accept our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of these victims,” Shane stated.

Miraculously, 23 other individuals who were present in the building when the fire erupted managed to escape, with one person remaining hospitalized due to non-life-threatening injuries. “At this time, there are no additional victims,” inspector Shane confirmed.

The inferno ignited just before 2:40 a.m. on the ground floor, which housed a restaurant and wine bar named Loam. The flames swiftly escalated, engulfing the upper floors that served as a hostel, known as Le 402, with 19 rooms available for guests.

Records indicate that the building located at 400 Notre-Dame Street East dates back to 1923, belonging to Emile Benamor, who also owned a nearby heritage structure that burned in March 2023, resulting in seven fatalities. In the aftermath of the earlier tragedy, multiple lawsuits emerged, and a coroner’s inquest remains pending, awaiting the conclusion of the police investigation and possible criminal proceedings.

In light of these recent events, provincial security minister François Bonnardel commented on the critical need to expedite inquiries into both fires. “We are exploring how to consolidate these two tragic events into a single inquest to streamline the process,” he remarked.

Additionally, Bonnardel responded to emerging allegations linking the fires to organized crime, stating that any claims of criminal involvement were “premature” at this stage. “It is too early to conclude if foul play is involved,” he stressed.

Montreal fire department leader Martin Guilbault revealed that inspectors had flagged violations at the Notre-Dame building in 2023, including a lack of fire and smoke alarm systems. However, he noted that these issues had been rectified by spring 2024. The building did not have sprinklers, as they were not mandated by regulations.

In response to the recent fire, inspectors checked other properties owned by Benamor on Friday and confirmed that they adhered to safety codes, with the exception of a minor infraction at an adjacent building.

The Quebec division of the Canadian Red Cross reported the evacuation of approximately 40 residents from the affected building and neighboring areas, with 16 individuals received into their care from the burning structure and an additional 22 families relocated from the nearby address.

Firefighters successfully brought the blaze under control between the 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. mark on Saturday morning, nearly 24 hours after it first ignited.

As the community grapples with the tragic loss and chaos, many questions remain unanswered. Will the investigation uncover underlying criminal actions, or was it simply a tragic accident? Authorities and residents alike wait with bated breath for answers in this devastating case.