Search continues at site of fatal fire in Old Montreal

Firefighters and police continued to search for at least five missing people at the site of a fatal fire in Old Montreal on Wednesday while an investigation to determine what sparked the blaze continued.

A plan to dismantle the upper floors of the three-storey building starting this week is on hold while authorities undertake a more “methodical” search using a crane, specialized camera equipment and drones.

Insp. David Shane of the Montreal police told a briefing Wednesday that searchers are targeting areas based on the probable location of the missing people when the fire broke out Thursday. On Tuesday evening, a second body was found and removed from the rubble.

The discovery “confirms that the cross-referencing of the information collected by investigators allows us to effectively orient the search in the building,” Shane said.

Police did not provide further details about the second victim pending identification by the coroner's office and out of respect for families, Shane said.

Authorities have said identities of victims will only be released after confirmation from two separate methods, including either a DNA test or dental records. A first body, a woman, was recovered Sunday evening.

Shane said investigators have not ruled out the possibility there could be more than five people missing.