An early morning fire sent one woman to hospital and injured two other people Thursday.
Firefighters were called to a multi-unit residential building on Marquette near Laurier in the Plateau-Mont-Royal at about 2:45 A.M. after residents heard an explosion.
When firefighters arrived at the scene smoke had filled the building and flames were shooting out from the windows.
Police and firefighters worked together to help residents escape the blaze.
A woman in her 40s was found unconscious inside one of the apartments. Firefighters and Urgences Sante paramedics began life saving maneuvers as she was rushed to hospital. She remains in critical condition.
One police officer was treated for smoke inhalation and a third person was treated at the scene for minor burns to their feet.
At one point power had been cut to nearly 2,600 Hydro-Quebec customers in the area around the fire.
The cause of the explosion/fire and the extent of the damage is not yet known.