An unoccupied commercial and residential building in Montreal’s Villeray—Saint-Michel—Parc-Extension borough was the target of an early morning fire on Friday. Montreal police (SPVM) received several 911 calls at 2 a.m. about the incident on Jean-Talon Street near Pie-IX Boulevard. “Upon arrival, police officers found that the Montreal Fire Department was already on the scene to bring the flames under control,” said Johany Charland, a spokesperson with Montreal police. “Several evacuations were carried out to ensure the safety of the residents near the fire.” Damage to the building is considered minor, and there were no reported injuries. “A suspect was reportedly seen at the scene,” said Charland. “Following the fire, the suspect reportedly fled before police arrived, giving suspicion that the fire was of a criminal nature.” A security perimeter was set up to allow investigators to analyze the area. The investigation has been transferred to the Montreal police arson squad.
