A woman is dead after a fire at a homeless encampment in Montreal North. Montreal police (SPVM) received a 911 call at 4:50 a.m. about the incident on Charleroi Street and Lacordaire Boulevard. “Upon arrival, police officers were led to a woman in her 50s who was unconscious,” said Jeanne Drouin, a spokesperson with Montreal police. “She was transported to hospital in critical condition, where she was later pronounced dead.” Drouin added that by the time the Montreal fire department arrived on site, the flames had already been extinguished. A security perimeter has been established to allow investigators to canvass the scene. The cause of the fire remains unknown. A ‘tragedy,’ says Montreal mayor Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada spoke out about the incident Wednesday morning at an executive committee meeting. “Our thoughts are with those who were close to her and anyone who knew her,” she said. “This tragedy reminds us, once again, of the importance of making sure the people on our streets have access to secure housing, where they can live safely.” The mayor goes on to say that with winter coming, she plans to speak with Quebec premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon to ensure that a plan is in place to help the city’s most vulnerable populations. “It’s not normal to have Montrealers die on our streets,” she said. “When we leave people alone, the consequences touch our entire society. Inaction is expensive. It affects our solidarity, our cohesion and our ability to take care of each other.”
