MONTREAL - Several people were injured when fire ripped through a building in Montreal's SouthWest borough early Friday morning.
The fire started around 4 a.m. on the upper floor of a two-storey building on Hadley St. near the corner of de Villiers St.
The ground floor, which at one point housed a garage and another commercial property, was vacant.
The apartments on the upper floor along with adjoining buildings were evacuated because of the risk of the fire spreading, but firefighters were able to limit the flames.
Two people were treated on the scene for smoke inhalation, and a firefighter was slightly injured when part of the building fell on top of him.
While extinguishing the fire, the crews discovered a marijuana grow operation, and at this point investigators suspect the electrical connections leading to the hydroponics and lights started the fire.
Residents will not be able to return home because the building is so badly damaged.
