Triplex fire forces evacuations

The blaze erupted in a triplex at about 1 a.m. in the southwest district of Verdun.

Two business occupy the ground floor while the upper floors have eight apartments.

Montreal police say the fire was detected by officers in a patrol car who smelled smoke while driving near the building.

They helped evacuate residents and alert firefighters.

There are no reported injuries and no immediate word on the cause of the fire.