A lockdown advisory for residents in the Montreal’s east end was lifted after a major fire involving lithium batteries was brought under control by firefighters late Monday.
The advisory was issued following a fire broke out at a shipper container holding some 15,000 kilograms of lithium batteries at the Port of Montreal.
The Montreal fire department first reported it was responding to a blaze at 3:15 p.m., with the intervention lasting through the night.
In the early evening, the borough of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve asked residents in the affected area to stay inside and keep their windows closed due to heavy smoke from the blaze. Those within the designated area were also urged to turn off any ventilation as a precaution.
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The confinement notice was lifted around 10:30 p.m., with the City of Montreal saying the situation was under control.
“Although firefighters may need a few more hours to finish their work, tests have confirmed that any danger to public health and safety has been ruled out,” the city wrote on its Facebook page.
Fire officials say more than 100 emergency crews responded to the flames and that about 60 people were evacuated from area.
A firefighter was treated for minor injuries. No other injuries were reported.
The blaze was brought under control after 10 p.m., but the cause is still under investigation.
On Tuesday morning, the fire department said there was almost no more smoke at the scene and it was awaiting a specialized cleaning team to arrive to remove the batteries.
— with files from Global News Morning and The Canadian Press
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