Man jumps from second floor to avoid fire

A suspicious fire broke out in a duplex in 2241 Gervais Street at about 11:40 Sunday night. A 56-year old man threw himself from the second floor of the duplex. Under police custody, he was taken by Urgence Santé ambulance personnel and driven to the hospital.

Jumping between two balconies and hitting the ground on impact, the man sustained an open fracture in one leg. Called to the scene, firemen quickly put the fire under control. All other residents of the building were evacuated. Apart from the man who was hospitalised, no one else was injured.

Two fire sources were discovered, one of which was a mattress. A police investigation is being conducted to find out if the fire was the result of a simple accident or if it was started deliberately. Seriously intoxicated at the time of the incident, the man will probably no longer remember what happened. The fire damaged two rooms.