Commercial complex in Griffintown destroyed by fire; one injured

Fire guts commercial building in Griffintown A large fire threatened an apartment complex in Griffintown and shut down multiple streets. One firefighter was sent to hospital.

A violent fire reduced an old building in Griffintown to ashes Friday morning.

Approximately 80 firefighters responded to the call around 4 a.m,, and worked for hours to extinguish the blaze on Young St., near the Wellington St. intersection.

At 6 a.m., the fire was upgraded to a three-alarm and responders worked vehemently to keep the flames from spreading to neighbouring buildings.

One firefighter was transported to hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The first floor of the building contains a car wash - but the fire chief said he believes the blaze may have started in the building's basement.

The building was vacant at the time of the fire, and the cause is still unknown.

Montreal police are urging morning commuters to avoid the area around the intesection of Peel and Wellington Sts. because of the incident and congestion caused by fire and police trucks.