Garbage fire forces evacuation of Montreal hotel

May 22, 2019, Montreal – A Berri St. hotel had to be evacuated early Tuesday after smoke infiltrated every floor of the building. Montreal firefighters believe the fire was deliberately set.

The incident occurred around 1:20 a.m. No injuries were reported and the evacuation of the 154-room hotel took about 30 minutes.

The fire started in a garbage bin behind the building, near René-Lévesque Blvd., and the smoke from the blaze made its way into the building through the hotel’s ventilation system.

Montreal firefighters believe the fire was deliberately set and the investigation has been transferred to the arson squad of the Montreal police department.

Investigators hope surveillance cameras captured the incident and will lead them to a suspect.