By Canadian Press

Montreal authorities begin clearing out east-end homeless camp over safety concerns

Dec 7, 2020 | 7:04 AM

MONTREAL — City officials have begun the process of dismantling a homeless camp in a park along Notre-Dame Street in east-end Montreal.

Montreal police and the fire department began the operation today after the city’s fire chief ordered the emergency evacuation of the camp on Sunday following a weekend fire.

The city says there have been several fires on the site, and fire officials say they took action to ensure the safety of the camp’s occupants, identifying a number of dangers on the site, including flammable materials.

No one was injured in Saturday’s fire, but it almost ignited a nearby propane tank, raising fears of a dangerous explosion.

The camp, near the Port of Montreal, has been in place for several months.

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Police began massing near the tent city before dawn on land owned by the provincial government, with patrol cars and officers on bicycles and horseback visible on television footage from the scene.

Const. Caroline Chevrefils of the Montreal police says officers are there to assist the fire department, which has responsibility for dismantling of the camp.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 7, 2020.

The Canadian Press