Demolition of Old Montreal building to begin as police search for victims of fire
CTV
The father of a young woman who remains missing after a fire swept through an Old Montreal building on Thursday wants the city to ensure all rental units have proper fire escapes.
The father of a young woman who remains missing after a fire swept through an Old Montreal building on Thursday wants the city to ensure all rental units have proper fire escapes.
Charlie Lacroix, 18, lived in the Montreal suburb of Terrebonne, Que., and was staying in an Airbnb in the building with a friend after spending the day in the city.
Her father, Louis-Philippe Lacroix, said he's been told his daughter called 911 twice within several minutes, unable to get out of the unit they were staying in, which had no window and no fire escape.
"How can someone rent an apartment, whether it's for a day, or a year, or whatever with no way to exit?" he said in an interview Sunday.
Seven people are still believed to be missing after the fire, Montreal police spokesman Const. Jean-Pierre Brabant said Sunday.
Lacroix said he's hopeful the fire will lead to action from the city to ensure Airbnbs and apartments have proper fire exits.
"This happened, there's nothing we can do, now do everything you freaking can to avoid another story like that," he said.