Fire leaves dozens of Saint-Amable residents homeless

A major overnight fire destroyed a six-unit apartment building in Saint-Amable, 40 km east of Montreal.

Dozens of people, including multiple families, are now without a home.

No serious injuries were reported, but the flames gutted the structure, forcing residents out with only the clothes on their backs.

Among the residents woken up by the fire was twelve-year-old Esta Wang.

“There were a lot of explosions, like ‘boom, boom, boom,’” she said. “It was really scary.”

Saint-Amable fire Esta Wang recalls the moment she was woke up by what sounded like an explosion just before flames engulfed her home. (Laurence Brisson Dubreuil/CTV News)

She lived on the second floor with her parents and younger brother, Wills.

When they tried to escape, they discovered the front staircase—the only one in the building—was already engulfed in flames.

“The stairs were all fire, so we couldn’t go that way,” said 11-year-old Wills Wang. “When my dad first woke me up, I thought it was a joke, but when I saw the flames, I got really scared.”

Saint-Amable fire Wills Wang says his father woke him up as flames engulfed their home. (Laurence Brisson Dubreuil/CTV News)

With the fire spreading fast, the family jumped out a window to safety.

Their father, Qi Wang, said there was no time to spare.

“That’s how we all escaped — it’s kind of a miracle too because the fire was not a small one,” he said. “After I got out, I helped others to jump from their floors as well.”

Saint-Amable fire Qi Wang describes his quick actions to save his family as flames engulfed their home. (Laurence Brisson Dubreuil/CTV News)

More than 20 firefighters battled the blaze through the night.

By sunrise, all that remained of the building was rubble, ash and damaged nearby cars.

The Canadian Red Cross was called in to support the displaced residents.

Saint-Amable fire Melted cars after a six-unit apartment building went up in flames in Saint-Amable. (Laurence Brisson Dubreuil/CTV News)

According to officials from the Sainte-Julie fire department, the blaze appears to have started on a balcony of the residential building.

The department says it believes a barbecue or battery may have sparked the flames, but the cause has not yet been confirmed.

The event has prompted questions about the building’s safety and its lack of a second exit.

Saint-Amable fire A major overnight fire destroyed a six-unit apartment building in Saint-Amable. (Laurence Brisson Dubreuil/CTV News)

Despite everything they have lost, the Wang family says they were deeply touched by their neighbours’ outpouring of support, offering food, clothing and toys, and opened their homes to anyone left stranded by the fire.

“It’s a really nice — a really good community,” said Qi Wang. “We hope to find a new home here, so we can stay in Saint-Amable.”