An 81-year-old woman has died and another woman has been taken to hospital due to smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in an apartment at a seniors residence near the corner of Villeray and Boyer.
Part of Les Habitations Boyer had to be evacuated due to the blaze. A few residents were forced to flee to their balconies in order to be rescued by fire crews.
Some of the buliding's tenants have been temporarily displaced and are receiving help from the Red Cross and Sun Youth.
Many of the evacuees will be relocated to other nearby seniors residence but Sid Stevens with Sun Youth says getting the residents' the medication they need is a top priority.
The victim was found in a third-floor apartment and several other units have been damaged by water and smoke. It is not known how the fire started, but it has been learned there was no sprinkler system in the building.
Borough mayor Annie Samson says the building dates back to before it was required by law for structures to be built with a sprinkler system.
There are a total of 90 units in the building.