Crews respond to 2 fires within an hour at homeless encampment in Hochelaga

A fire burns at a homeless encampment near the intersection of Notre-Dame and Davidson streets on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (Cosmo Santamaria/CTV News)

Firefighters were called to a homeless encampment in the city’s east end Tuesday after two fires broke out within the span of about an hour.

The Montreal fire service (SIM) said they received a call at 6:45 p.m. and responded to the encampment near the intersection of Notre-Dame and Davidson streets in the city’s Hochelaga neighbourhood.

Once firefighters arrived, they found that garbage had been set on fire in the area, according to Francis Fleury, section chief for the Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal (SIM). The blaze was quickly put out.

Then, about an hour later, a second fire was reported at the same location.

Crews were able to to extinguish that fire as well, which engulfed tents and other items in the encampment.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.