1 person in critical condition after fire breaks out in Montreal social housing complex

One person is in critical condition and another was taken to hospital after a fire broke out at an apartment building in Montreal's Sud-Ouest borough. 

The fire started shortly before 2 p.m. at the building on the corner of St-Jacques and Lenoir streets. 

According to Émilie Barbeau-Charlebois, section chief for Montreal's fire department, about 20 of the building's residents were affected by smoke inhalation.

"Many people in the building have reduced mobility and needed help evacuating," she said.

By 3 p.m., nearly 60 firefighters were on site working to put the fire out, although it was under control at that time, the section chief said. 

Urgences-Santé said four ambulances are also there as well as one of its advanced care units.

Barbeau-Charlebois said it was too early to determine what caused the fire, but said the fire department wanted to remind people to use the upcoming time change to change the batteries in their smoke detectors. 

"We're still noticing a lot of dysfunctional detectors," said Barbeau-Charlebois. 

The apartment complex the fire broke out in is part of the social housing units run by Montreal's housing corporation, the Office municipal d'habitation de Montréal, and is known as Habitations Charlebois.