fires break out at homeless encampment on notre-dame st.
separate fires broke out in a tent and bin, two days after authorities dismantled sections of the camp.
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despite two small fires breaking out on site, quebec’s transport ministry says it has no immediate plans to further dismantle a homeless encampment on notre-dame st. the ministry, which owns the land, had cleared out sections of the camp on monday but allowed people to remain in tents in specific areas along the busy east-end thoroughfare.
the city’s fire department reported two fires at the encampment wednesday morning, including a tent that burned down.
“the ministry does not intend to proceed with any further dismantling, unless circumstances justify it,” spokesperson louis-andré bertrand wrote in an email response, “notably a request from the city of montreal or fire department.”
the number of tents on the stretch of land grew steadily throughout the summer and fall until the ministry served eviction notices to people living there two weeks ago.
the initial deadline for people to leave was extended after a legal clinic that works with the unhoused intervened, which also led to tents being permitted in some areas.
a similar encampment had sprung up in the area in 2020 and was ultimately dismantled over safety concerns after authorities said a fire nearly spread to a propane tank kept on site.
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a small barbecue is seen at a safe distance from tents at an encampment on notre-dame st. in montreal on wednesday, dec. 4, 2024.
allen mcinnis
/
montreal gazette
no serious injuries were reported in wednesday’s fires. signs of one fire were still visible come late morning, with a half-melted laundry bin surrounded by burn marks and other charred debris.
stéphane, a 53-year-old who lives in the encampment, said he believes the tent fire was caused by someone trying to stay warm by burning hand sanitizer in a container.
they knocked it over and their blanket quickly caught fire, he said.
“people are trying to stay warm. we have no choice — we don’t have winter tents or heating,” he said.
asked if he worries the fire could lead to more of the encampment being dismantled over safety concerns, stéphane dropped his head.
this is the first winter he’s spending on the streets after losing his apartment. he looked for space in a shelter as the cold arrived, he said, but couldn’t find one.
“there’s no room anywhere — everything is full. where do you want us to go? go live in there?” he asked, pointing to an abandoned industrial building across the street.
reached for comment on wednesday, a spokesperson for montreal mayor valérie plante’s office said the fires point to the city’s belief that homeless encampments aren’t a safe alternative for people.
“our concerns about the safety of encampments in public spaces were confirmed again this morning,” wrote spokesperson simon charron.
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“with the cold weather now upon us, public health authorities need to work on the rapid opening of warming centres and shelters,” he added. “we can’t risk another fire, so we’re reaching out to find solutions for opening these sites.”
workers, with the help of montreal police, clear the notre-dame st. encampment in montreal on monday, dec. 2, 2024.
allen mcinnis
/
montreal gazette
workers who dismantled sections of the encampment on monday were met with protesters, but the transport ministry said only two people remained in their tents at the time.
advocates for the unhoused have denounced the dismantlement, arguing there aren’t enough spaces in montreal’s shelter network to accommodate the growing demands in the city.
“are encampments a solution? no. do (people living there) have another alternative? no,” marine gourit-armengaud, a community organizer for the comité bails, a housing advocacy group, had said on monday.
“elected officials can tell us the solution is for people to sleep indoors. we agree, but there isn’t space,” she added.
a propane tank is seen at an encampment on notre-dame st. in montreal on wednesday, december 4, 2024.
allen mcinnis
/
montreal gazette
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