Public health advises residents of eastern Montreal to close windows, doors, and air exchangers due to poor air quality following a major fire that has raged in the past few hours. .

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Air conditioners, for their part, should be activated in “recirculation” mode.

The fire was declared in a recycling plant in which there was a lot of stored materials.

"There were a lot of potential sources of combustible material," said Louise Desrosiers, head of public information for the Montreal Fire Department in an interview on LCN.

“Like any fire, when there are materials burning, there are volatile materials in the air. This morning, we no longer have any visible flames, we only have incandescent materials. There is a little smoke coming from the fire, ”explains the representative of the SIM.

The very large surface of the building makes the task particularly difficult for the 150 firefighters, in addition to the suffocating heat on Sunday, when the blaze broke out.

“We had to do a lot of relief so as not to exhaust our firefighters. We understand that with this intense heat there, it is difficult to support our own clothes. Imagine the firefighters armed with their combat gear, the bottle on their back in addition, the mask, the helmet, it becomes even more exhausting for them, ”she concludes.

People in the east of Montreal who experience headaches, cough, or are nauseous should dial 811.