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Two children were seriously injured in a fire that broke out in an apartment building in Montréal-Nord on Friday afternoon.
Police say a nine-year-old boy sustained injuries all over his body and doctors were not able to provide an update on his condition early Friday evening.
A 13-year-old boy suffered significant injuries to his upper body, but medical authorities say his life is not in danger.
The three-storey residential building is located on Lacordaire Boulevard, between des Narcisses and des Iris streets.
According to the Montreal fire service, the first-alarm fire began shortly before 4 p.m.
Montreal police spokesperson Caroline Chèvrefils says the police arson squad is investigating due to the injuries, but the fire appears to have been accidental and started on the stovetop.
The fire was contained to the unit where it broke out and other residents of the building were allowed back inside later Friday, Chèvrefils said.
Othman Zakaria, a neighbour, told Radio-Canada that he and his brother noticed smoke and went on the balcony and could see a boy calling for help with black smoke coming from the apartment.
The young victim mentioned his nine year-old brother was trapped inside the unit, so Zakaria and his brother tried to help.
“There was a lot of black smoke, it was impossible to breathe, impossible to see,” Zakaria said.
“We had no choice but to wait for the firefighters.”