Woman in her 50s dies in Montreal North homeless encampment fire

A woman in her 50s died Wednesday after a fire broke out at a homeless encampment near the intersection of De Charleroi Street and Lacordaire Boulevard in Montreal North. Police found her unconscious at the scene around 5 a.m. after responding to a 911 call; she was transported to hospital in critical condition and pronounced dead.

Firefighters arrived to find the blaze already extinguished. The cause remains under investigation by arson unit investigators and the Quebec Coroner's office, which opened a probe to determine the cause of death.

Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada called the death a tragic reminder to act on the homelessness crisis. "It is not normal to see Montrealers dying on our streets," she said. "When we leave people to fend for themselves, the consequences affect our entire society. Inaction takes its toll and undermines our solidarity, our cohesion, and our ability to care for one another."

Martinez Ferrada plans to unveil a "winter warmth plan" Thursday and will request Quebec government funding for its implementation. Quebec premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has already signalled the incoming administration will provide emergency funding for shelters and winter warming spaces.