Four families displaced after major fire in Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension

A major fire early Thursday morning forced several families from their homes in Montreal’s Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension borough.

According to the Montreal fire department, the blaze broke out in a vacant residential building at the intersection of De Chateaubriand and De Bellechasse streets.

The building, which contained two unoccupied housing units, was heavily engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. As a precaution, residents in four neighbouring apartments were evacuated.

Four families have been taken in by the Red Cross.

About 120 firefighters and roughly 40 emergency vehicles were deployed to fight the blaze.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and authorities say the situation was brought under control after an intensive response.

No injuries have been reported.