Woman dies following fire at homeless encampment in Montréal

Woman dies following fire at homeless encampment in Montréal-Nord

Encampment fire broke out just before 5 a.m. Wednesday near Charleroi Street and Lacordaire Boulevard

Montreal police say a woman is dead after a fire broke out at a homeless encampment in the Montréal-Nord borough early Wednesday morning.

A witness called 911 around 4:50 a.m. after noticing the fire near the intersection of Charleroi Street and Lacordaire Boulevard.

When emergency crews arrived at the scene, they found a woman who was unconscious. She was transported to hospital, in critical condition, where police say she was pronounced dead.

Officials say the woman was in her 50s.

According to the Montreal Fire Department, by the time fire crews arrived at the scene, the fire had already been extinguished.

Investigators from the arson unit will be at the scene this morning. For now, the cause of the fire is still unknown.

Montreal police are investigating what happened at the encampment. (Simon-Marc Charron/Radio-Canada)

Mayor wants help from province to address 'urgent homelessness crisis'

Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada addressed the woman's death during her remarks at a Wednesday morning executive committee meeting.

While speaking about working with the new government, Martinez Ferrada said the city has "a lot of work ahead of us" on various files, including confronting the "urgent homelessness crisis."

The mayor said her thoughts are with the woman's loved ones and the people who knew and supported her.

"This tragedy reminds us once again of the importance of ensuring that people — our citizens who are living on the streets — have access to safe housing where they can live with dignity," she said.

Montreal mayor mulls legal action against Quebec after baby found at encampment

"It is not normal to see Montrealers dying on our streets."

Martinez Ferrada said that the city's cold-weather plan has been ready for several weeks and will be presented on Thursday. She added that the city will be making its first request to the new provincial government to ensure the plan is implemented.

"What is at stake is the lives and dignity of Quebecers," the mayor said.

There were three to four tents that could be seen in the encampment Wednesday morning. (Simon-Marc Charron/Radio-Canada)

Meanwhile, Diane Pilote, executive director of Chez Doris, a women's shelter in Montreal, said the organization is still waiting to find out if it'll receive any money for its warming station. The winter, she points out, "is just in front of us."

She said she was shocked and saddened to hear of the woman's death at the encampment, and pointed out that camps are not a permanent solution to the issue of homelessness.

"It's a solution that helps, but it's not a secure place for everyone."

Patricia Kozicka is a digital journalist with CBC Montreal. She has previously worked in Toronto and Edmonton. You can reach her at patricia.kozicka@cbc.ca.