N環球 
Woman in her 50s dies after fire at homeless encampment in Montréal-Nord
The fire broke out just before 5 a.m. on Wednesday, October 7, at an encampment near Charleroi St. and Lacordaire Blvd. in Montréal-Nord. Montreal police said a passerby reported the blaze at 4:50 a.m.; officers found a woman in her 50s unconscious and she was later pronounced dead in hospital. An SPVM spokesperson said everything points to an accidental death, with the investigation ongoing.
Why it matters
The death, as temperatures fall, has reignited debate over Montreal's homelessness crisis. The mayor has called homelessness the biggest humanitarian crisis the city faces, and pressure is mounting on winter shelter plans.
Full report
At 4:50 a.m. on Wednesday, October 7, Montreal police were alerted by a passerby to a fire at a homeless encampment on Charleroi St. near Lacordaire Blvd. in the borough of Montréal-Nord. Officers found a woman in her 50s unconscious. She was taken to hospital in critical condition and later declared dead. The fire broke out just before 5 a.m.
SPVM spokesperson Jeanne Drouin said everything points to an accidental death, and the investigation is ongoing.
Reactions
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada said the woman's death serves as a reminder of the importance of eliminating homelessness. The tragedy has also revived political debate in Quebec over encampment policy and winter shelter capacity.
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