Last 2 victims of Old Montreal fire identified - Action News
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Montreal

Last 2 victims of Old Montreal fire identified

Charlie Lacroix and Walid Belkahla, both 18, perished in the fire. Fire and police officials say that in all, 22 people were in the building at the time of the fire. Six managed to get outuninjured,nine were hospitalized and seven died.

Search for victims has wrapped up, officials say

Firetrucks on a street in front of a charred building.
Montreal police and the Montreal fire department announced the end of the search for bodies, after identifying the last two victims who died in the fire. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

On Tuesday, Montreal police and fire officials announced the end of search efforts after identifying the last two victims of a fire in an Old Montreal building on March 16.

Montreal police Insp.David Shaneidentified the last two people found asCharlie Lacroix and Walid Belkahla, both 18. Their bodies werepulled from the rubble of the charred building on Monday.

Men speak in front of a camera in the street,
Investigators will now be turning their attention to the cause of the fire. (Hnia Ould-Hammou/CBC)

"Out of respect, we will not provide further details on the origins of the victims and the circumstances surrounding their deaths," said Shane.

Montreal fire operations Chief Martin Guilbault said the retrieval of the last two victims concludes the search because investigators have no reason to believe there are any more victims.

The attention of investigators now turns to what sparked the fire, said Guilbault.

Girl with colourful hair smiling.
Charlie Lacroix, 18, was staying at an Airbnb the night of the fire. (gofundme.com)

"Today, and in the next few days, all our efforts will be focused on finding the cause and circumstances of the fire."

A total of seven people perished in the fire that erupted on March 16.

According to Guilbault, 22 people were in the building at the time of the fire. Six managed to get outuninjured,nine were hospitalized and seven died.

The victims are:

  • Dania Zafar.
  • Saniya Khan.
  • An Wu.
  • NathanSears.
  • Camille Maheux.
  • Charlie Lacroix.
  • Walid Belkahla.

Firefighters rescued four people by portable ladder, two by aerial ladder and one person escaped by jumping through the window, he said.