Suspicious Fire in Old Montreal Leaves Two Dead, Investigation Underway

The blaze in a century-old building has prompted a major police investigation due to its suspicious origins.

The fire broke out early Friday morning in a three-story building on Notre-Dame Street East, housing a restaurant and a hostel.
Two people have been confirmed dead, and one person is in critical condition following the incident.
The building's owner, Emile Benamor, also owned another property that suffered a fatal fire last year, killing seven people.
Montreal police have taken over the investigation from the fire department, citing the fire's suspicious nature.
Approximately 125 firefighters were deployed, and the fire was classified as a five-alarm, the most serious level.