3 injured, 30 displaced in overnight fire in Montreal’s Park Ex

3 injured, 30 displaced in overnight fire in Montreal’s Park Ex

Residents reported hearing explosions prior to the fire

More than 100 Montreal firefighters were called to battle an overnight blaze that forced dozens of residents from their homes in the Parc-Extension neighbourhood.

Shortly after 2 a.m. on Wednesday, the Montreal Fire Department responded to a fire at a two-storey building on St-Roch Street near De l'Épée Avenue. The first floor of the building was a commercial space and the top floor had roughly 10 occupied residential units.

"People heard explosions prior to the fire," said William Murray, a Montreal Fire Department Section Chief.

"When we got on site … the whole building was already in flames, and part of the building collapsed also."

The fire quickly engulfed the two-storey building on Saint-Roch Street. (Alain Beland/Radio-Canada)

Urgences-santé says three people were transported to hospital for minor injuries.

Thirty people are under the care of the Red Cross.

As of 7 a.m., Murray said the fire was contained, but fire crews were still on scene to make sure there's no risk of it spreading.

The Montreal Fire Department says roughly 120 firefighters were called in to fight the blaze. (Alain Beland/Radio-Canada)

Murray said the fire department is currently investigating and, at this stage, does not believe the fire was arson.

He also said there was reportedly some work done on the commercial floor a couple of days ago. Investigators will be looking at whether there's a link between that work and the fire.

With files from CBC's Rowan Kennedy