Massive fire in Montreal’s east end forces 20 families out into bitter cold

The Montreal fire department is working to get a major fire-alarm blaze under control Friday after the flames forced 20 families out in the bitter cold in the city’s east end.

The frigid weather conditions have made it difficult for the 150 firefighters at the scene in the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough. Their jackets are covered in ice and some of their equipment is frozen.

Montreal is under an extreme cold warning, with the wind chill making it feel like -40 by noon. Temperatures have quickly plummeted throughout the morning and are expected to continue dropping in the afternoon.

Authorities were called around 7:45 a.m. to the scene on Sherbrooke Street near de Carignan Avenue. The affected building is home to both businesses and residential apartments.

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Montreal police say two police officers required medical attention due to the smoke from the fire. Despite the extent of the fire and the biting cold, police said the evacuation of residents from the burning building went well.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante thanked the fire department for their ongoing efforts to bring the fire under control.

“My thoughts are with the families and merchants affected by this fire,” she wrote on Twitter. “We are with you.”

The fire department says it is possible that power could be cut in the area. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

— with files from The Canadian Press