The Deadly Airbnb Fire Disaster 2023

[@MakerInMotion]

The government said they couldn't find the unregistered Airbnbs. Try going to Airbnb and using the search bar. Unbelievable.

[@mariekatherine5238]

Really! No excuse.

[@user-mt4ku7jw1y]

Exactly

[@BraveHornet]

They don't expect their to be any. There would be no reason to have an Airbnb in the area with inspections. Plus they assumed that Airbnb wouldn't allow them as it was illegal. Yet they did its kinda Airbnb's fault especially as they got notified of its unsafety.

[@JustMeUpNorth]

Makes you wonder if they’re in on the scheme, although for them it’s way easier to ignore than to spend money on actually paying someone to find and take these things down.

[@newsun444]

classic quebec government moment

[@RadDudesman979]

That's a prime example of a death trap if I've ever seen one. Renting out rooms with no windows?! That's f**ked up!

[@TreeStump-and-CheeseKetchupIT]

I can't put two walls and a bed in my middle-of-nowhere basement because the windows are 3 inches too short, meanwhile this guy has no windows and makes $1000 a week per room right next to where the government lives?!

[@shaylahkelevitz7903]

Wait… No windows ? At all ? No one should be living in them, long term or short term, air bnb, it’s irrelevant. Anyone would have been trapped !!

[@pinacoladaofficial]

AirBNB ignored one of his buildings that he GLUED THE WINDOWS shut on. So. The other one had windows. He just glued them. he wanted no easy escape. And Airbnb didn’t do anything about it like 6 months prior. And now they’re ignoring the lady who initially reported it

[@ZolaClyde]

I absolutely could not stay in a room without windows, on top of the safety issues you mentioned, it sounds intensely claustrophobic… you couldn’t pay me to stay in a room w/out windows.

[@MarieLehleitner]

I think most building codes specify that all bedrooms must have a window as an alternate point of escape to be considered a bedroom. So it may have not been legal to rent them as apartments either. Why were the windows glued shut, though? The only reason I can think to do that would be for high-rise office buildings so people can't jump out, but this was just a couple stories and people lived there.

[@charliekezza]

That seems just insane to not have an alternate exit

[@danielclute2069]

Are you under the impression that people typically jump out of the windows in several story buildings when there is a fire? Sometimes there is a way out via the window, most of the time it's through the fire exits. Not trying to defend places that don't have windows, because windows are awesome and should be required. Fire escape isn't typically their purpose though. How is the literal arsonist not catching more heat (pun intended) for this tragedy?

[@elizabethpashley3283]

Did I miss something or did the owner (Benamor) claim both that he didn't know there were Air BnB sublets but also he told the firefighters there were Air BnB tenants inside?

[@ZolaClyde]

This was a confusing video, wish I could figure some of the links re who did what … it needs a redo or something. There’s too much unnecessary info or not enough… it’s like a disaster video crashed into a true crime video and left a mess.

[@Tsumami__]

@@ZolaClydelol accurate description

[@JimMilton-ej6zi]

One is about saving people, the other is about defending himself against the people he tried to save.

[@Menuki]

From what ppl deal with in Vegas, which limits short term rentals to make sure ppl go to casinos, a local will rent a property in their name. Fix it up and list it on AirBnB. It doesn’t take many stays to cover rent and pocket the profit. I don’t know if that’s what’s going on here tho. Alternatively, he could have a property manager who is listing his vacant rooms.

[@stickynorth]

He's a Montreal Mob Lawyer... Ask no more questions... ;-)

[@nicholass7563]

Safety violations since 2009 and nothing done to fix anything 9 years later in 2018 is criminal. Fire hall should have condemned this place. That’s corruption they should be liable too.

[@UxB4D]

Welcome to Montreal where the Rizzuto make the rules

[@raaaaaaarr]

​@@UxB4Dalll of canada relies on illegal suites and etc and nobody does anything. We need more housing cuz so many people are in illegal suites. Like, SO MANY. Its like building code doesn't exist anymore unless its to stop a new building from going up that would go for under 2 million.

[@-u_o]

but i like my profit baby

[@hannahp1108]

How is it legal to have bedrooms without windows??? That is suuuuuuper illegal in the US

[@lightdreamer_]

In Quebec too. But if you're listing an illegal Air bnb, I don't think you're caring about the window legality

[@gusgablaw7375]

Its illegal, but poorly enforced because of laxism and corruption.

[@surewhynot6259]

Historical preservation laws

[@FATTYBONGRIPS]

It's illegal in canada too but in historical areas building codes do not apply if it's already constructed... atleast where i am in canada

[@CraigStCyrPlus]

Hannah, they rent out broom closets on Craigslist in New York. Im not kidding. Legality as it is, these things exist.

[@miapdx503]

Something I was taught about traveling...no matter how tired you are, before you settle in, get your bearings. Note your exits, and not just the "official" ones. Figure out what you will do if you wake up and smell smoke. When you're awakened from a deep sleep, it is not the time you want to have to figure these things out. Not just fire safety, you need a plan for every kind of disaster. Be safe people! 🌹

[@theamaranthineman574]

If I lived in an appartment building I'd have one of those climbing ropes + climbing descender stored somewhere near a window or the balcony, just in case.

[@MrWolfSnack]

I stay safe by staying in a proper apartment or motel and not using a scammy phone app garbage company.

[@greenbeenie2]

A MURDERER IN A MINIMUM SECURITY PRISON AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE ESCAPED?????REALLY????

[@LeKarrizzma]

That part

[@TheSCBGeneral]

We truly live in a clown world.

[@mikaross4671]

Canada is truly a clown country.

[@Rylin_100]

@@mikaross4671as a Canadian I can agree. We are more clown like than geese

[@flexltu]

You can accidentally offend the murderer if you place him in a max security prison.

[@Seiaeka]

I've been saying for years that Airbnb should be illegal in Canada. We have a housing crisis. My aunt owns a house in a downtown metro area, she's lived there for 60 years now. The street has maybe 10 houses on it if you include the corner lots which are a different street address. 8 of them are now Airbnbs. Meanwhile, uni students are bunking up 10 to a 2 bedroom unit because we don't have enough space. It's only a matter of time before we hear about one of these illegal group rental situations ending in tragedy.

[@raaaaaaarr]

Canada is making me furious. The amount of immoral things going on right now really makes me want to dive off a bridge. Saw a study that said more canadians are fuming with anger than ever before. That's an understatement. Im surprised ppl aren't trying to take ppl who make the laws out right now. But i think they banned guns anticipating these new bills and treating the people as slaves would have resulted in that, so... I can dream..

[@airplanemaniacgaming7877]

Not to mention the cost of houses, and living in general too. I'm barely into my 20s, and I'm living with the family. I don't want to have to wait until I'm in my 50s to be able to afford a home. It's painful. For f........iretruck sakes, even making the amount I do now isn't enough to afford to live on my own!

[@Seiaeka]

@@airplanemaniacgaming7877 I'm almost 39 and in the same boat. I have a roommate and I still have to ask my parents for help all the time. They're even asking me to move home. >_>; I definitely can't afford to have kids. Something is gonna have to break because we can't keep going like this.

[@catprog]

@@Seiaeka Yep. People are choosing not to have kids and that is breaking the system.

[@Seiaeka]

@@catprog it's not that we're choosing to not have children, we just simply can't AFFORD to have children.

[@frakismaximus3052]

Montreal is a wonderful city, but there has been big problems with corruption, both in the city and in the province. Montreal is also the home of the Rizzuto crime family, arguably the most powerful Mafia family in all of North America.

[@ImagineGTAVI]

This basically says it all. We are looking at murder for insurance.

[@EM.1]

Rizzuto sounds from or related to 🇮🇹 roots and descendants. It’s a guess but did I guessed it right?

[@PositiveOnly-dm3rx]

Lol,,a Canadian crime family sounds about as scary as a toothless Chihuahua. I highly doubt they are even in the top ten most dangerous in NA.

[@Rylin_100]

@@EM.1it also sounds like a name some gen alpha would change their last name to. But it actually sounds cool as hell when it has nothing to do with a cringe gen alpha

[@frakismaximus3052]

@EM.1 yes Italian Mafia 👍

[@tysirrah]

"If civilans can find illegal reantals, so can you " Dang He wasnt playing 😂😂

[@martinc.720]

They have officers spending whole shifts on the Internet pretending to be children. They could do the same with officers renting illegal units, showing up to check in, and giving the renter a ride to the courtroom.

[@flawedexistence]

Just stay in a well regarded commercial hotel. Do your research. AirBNB units are sketchy, at best and cause rent increases and fewer units for locals who need a long term home. And how are windowless units allowed in any building in Canada?

[@martinc.720]

They are not. Never heard of someone doing something illegal?

[@emordnilap4747]

This was not a legal set up. The building was probably only legal for any use because it was old. They weren't authorized to make it into units like that.

[@MrWombatty]

Same problems here in Australia, so good luck in getting those in power to introduce legislation to stop people using platforms like AirBnb to make huge profits! Politicians at all levels of government are some of the largest investors in this sort of property!

[@ChristopherMSFish]

Holy shit! I know someone who was staying there when this happend! They got okay luckily, thank God. Its crazy just being reminded of this!

[@enerioffutt1881]

And this is but one of the reasons I have never trusted Airbnb

[@Menuki]

I feel like the city really dropped the ball tho. If they’re so adamant on keeping Airbnb out, it doesn’t seem like they were trying very hard. The owner may be a sleezeball, but he does raise a good point. How are historical building supposed to be brought up to code if ppl can’t alter them? Like he’s not allowed to install windows even if he wanted to because it would damage the building.

[@wilsjane]

From what I am reading here, I think we have a lot less problems hee in the UK. Perhaps the reason is that ours seem to be in more rural areas.

[@alisonwilson9749]

@@wilsjane They're all over the place in our cities in the UK as well as in towns in coastal areas. In some places in the SW, long-term tenants were evicted so that the owners could get more money by letting on airbnb. So much so that hotels and other tourist places can't get staff because they have nowhere to live with their families. It's high time airbnbs were banned. Allow them for, say, two weeks a year per property if those living there the rest of the year want to let them when on holiday, otherwise, no. And take away even that permission if there is any anti-social behavour - another problem they create.

[@MrWombatty]

​@@alisonwilson9749Same problems here in Australia, so good luck in getting those in power to introduce legislation to stop people using platforms like AirBnb to make huge profits! Politicians at all levels of government are some of the largest investors in this sort of property!

[@ForeverSweetx3]

Airbnb has gone down the drain. My last stay at an airbnb was HORRIBLE and yet the rental had 5 stars. It was not a good place to stay. Smelled bad, had no elevator, far from the train station, and no hot water at one point.

[@Jacqui-ie9kw]

Presently..I’am in paris staying in a airbnb it is terrible never again. Dangerous old business very very unsafe.. I check out tomorrow can’t come soon enough. Never again These hosts are frauds misrepresenting their accommodation’s. This is the 3 rd disaster 2 X France. 1 Italy never trust them. I thought it couldn’t happen to me again where the host was a fraud sure enough he is! I will never recommend Airbnb to any one I read all the reviews even messaged them with queries Just can’t trust those so called reviews!!

[@Jacqui-ie9kw]

very old buildings tragedy just waiting to happen… The stairs were horrendous spiral steep looked like they could collapse.

[@FunkyyTree]

Well to be fair the star ratings don’t mean anything beyond “amenities” they have for you to use- it doesn’t always mean the place is nice or even clean.

[@MechaNintendoMast]

Victims were screwed over from every angle, weren't they?

[@mirrrstery]

Unfortunately

[@MrWolfSnack]

Canada is like that.

[@kathleen7197]

This is my neighborhood !! Thank you so much for covering it !

[@martinc.720]

You really think this is an appropriate comment?

[@Zraeicro]

​​@@martinc.720nothing out of place, instead it's a good one, for appreciating that the news is being spread further via KZbin from a bigger audience KZbinr? What r u on

[@CatCat-v5g]

The trouble with AirBnB worldwide, is that as a commercial entity it has very quickly become too 'Big for its Boots' - it simply has zero business interest in corporate responsibility/safety & only realy invests heavily in two things: legal unaccountability & marketing. As a business model, it's frighteningly succesful, unfortunately.

[@whoknowsflapjack8754]

Stuff Airbnb.. they have played a huge role in super inflated rentals here in regional NSW Australia.

[@leigha2814]

Everywhere there is even a moderate appeal to travel. Airbnb may not be an accessory to murder very often but they have destroyed lives the world over.

[@MrWombatty]

Same problem everywhere in Australia, so good luck in getting those in power to introduce legislation to stop people using platforms like AirBnb to make huge profits! Politicians at all levels of government are some of the largest investors in short-term rental property! Local & foreign criminal gangs are also laundering money through buying & selling Aussie real-estate, which also pushes up property-prices, especially when they pay in cash!

[@whoknowsflapjack8754]

@@MrWombatty who said I was trying to make them. I also reference regional NSW as that where I live and work. Do you really think I am that naive? KZbin comments sections are getting just as catty as fb. Calm your farms people.

[@MrWombatty]

@@whoknowsflapjack8754 Gosh, I was generalising, so don't take it so personally! As someone with chronic health issues (mainly ME/CFS, Arthritis, & a spinal-injury), I could no longer afford to rent the 1 bedroom unit above a shop in Sydney's south-west. Apart from painfully struggling with the stairs, it was too hot in Summer & draughty in colder weather. After I moved out early last year after 14yrs, they finally fixed what I'd been complaining about like the gaping hole in the kitchen ceiling, missing/damaged blinds/curtains, painted it themselves, then increased the rent 60%!

[@hattorihanzo2705]

Sounds like Airbnb needs to be sued and investigated for not making sure their customers rented dwelling is safe and up to date. Particularly because they were notified and ignored the people notifying them. Hm...

[@whlewis9164]

That building was also not permitted for Airbnb type short term rentals

[@Menoetia]

AirBnB dgaf. Ask disabled people about their experiences with the company.

[@ImagineGTAVI]

People, read the small print, there's no way Airbnb is getting successfully sued here- any lawyer would think about it, and put the responsibility on the owners, which makes sense. Between owners and renters, people will check things out themselves ( Airbnb is likely totally automated to list. )

[@danielclute2069]

@@ImagineGTAVI Here's a thought. Maybe put the responsibility on the hockey mask wearing serial killer/arsonist/psychopath that lit the building on fire using accelerant. Or find out who actually did it. I know the video is confusing, and I'd love to see a better video on this, but these comments are just making things even more confusing.

[@pyridonfaltis9761]

@@whlewis9164 But AirBnB did not care, and allowed listing them on its site anyway.

[@CraynerProductions]

Need to ban airbnb and other such amateur hotel apps.

[@MrWombatty]

Same problems here in Australia, so good luck in getting those in power to introduce legislation to stop people using platforms like AirBnb to make huge profits! Politicians at all levels of government are the largest investors in this sort of property!

[@NeuroDeviant421]

No windows?! Why would you sleep in a one exit bunker?

[@kstanni87]

That is a big red flag. Stale air is dangerous.

[@JimMilton-ej6zi]

Because people are dumb. There's a reason why we need warning labels telling us not to swallow bottle caps, and it's because people will do something like this with no agency then complain when it backfires.

[@pyridonfaltis9761]

When people book places to stay, the location and the price are usually the most important factors, and I believe not many even a first though about any safety issues in a "safe" place like Montreal. No one really goes on a trip expecting to be a part of a disaster.

[@pyridonfaltis9761]

@@auggie532 Both apply. There were more than one apartment, so some obviously had windows, even if some did not.

[@stanislavkostarnov2157]

in the UK I stayed in an old warehouse building which was subdivided into many tiny internal box-rooms used as a motel/hotel... it had heavy physical door-locks which were electrically operated in such a way that in a power outage you simply could not get out.... still, since it was that or sleeping in a park (and it was January), I was really glad the place was available! I am pro-safety, but only if there is an offer of affordable safe alternatives... I am ready to risk somewhat if that means I can get something otherwise totally out of my reach...

[@annegrey3780]

as a Canadian I had heard of this but I didn't know many of the details. I know Montreal has a long history of sketchy building code stuff (see Blue Bird Cafe Fire, where the fire doors were locked, the emergency fire stairway was barely secured to the wall and fell off during use, and all but one window on the second level was bared for details.) Also, on the Blue Bird Cafe, I believe the people in that )victims and survivors) deserve a lot of credit, just as they do here. While Montreal may have a lot of building code issues, it also seems to have a lot of extremely level headed people who are extremely skilled at remaining relatively calm and rational even when trapped in a literal death trap. In the Blue Bird Cafe, people actually lined up at the one window, because if they all rushed for it, they would cause a crush and end up blocking it...then no one would get out. When they found a fire door that they thought they could force their way through, instead of all crushing toward it people stayed back to give the people at the front room to run at the door until they cracked it open. While still very hectic and chaotic (as these were literal youths at a bar caught in a fire) there's little doubt in my mind that such actions allowed the survivors that did survive to get out alive...and that some of the people who didn't get out alive knowingly risked their lives giving space for escape/rescue. Realistically, they probably would have died anyways - again, crushes and rushes don't save lives - but the fact you see, in both of these cases, people remaining calm enough to think about what's going to maximize *everyone's* survival chances I think is worth noting.

[@spiritthingw]

We weren't even aware in the west, this is horrible, air b&b needs to be disbanded and fined and sued. Government didn't take any action either, lies from every direction.

[@g.p.4973]

This was so terrible, the lost of precious lives because of greed. I work not too far from where this building was situated and we took a walk one day during lunch toward the end of spring of the same year) and the smoke smell was still clinging to the remain of the building. Really terrible

[@Catladybug]

How did this building pass fire marshal inspection? Even if it renting out or not. Property management should be sued and jailed. Even if it was arbnb or not it was a risk to begin with. This is so mest up.

[@JoeRocket-sf6qs]

Man I feel bad for those innocent ppl,dying in terror with no way out,an awful last experience.😢

[@sabrinatscha2554]

What a tragedy for that beautiful old building. Too bad it wasn’t acquired by someone who would care for it.

[@JerryFisher]

When I hear about events like this, my faith in humanity starts to waver.

[@danielleboulanger7857]

The future airbnb that was spray painted in protest (and was cleaned recently) used to hold a medical clinic

[@spasmic]

why da fck anyone would rent a place without windows ?!?!?!??!

[@martinc.720]

Let me guess... you rent the place online, the listing does not show this and does not mention anything about it, you have no way of knowing there are no windows until you actually show up...

[@jacobprice2579]

@@martinc.720exactly this I expect. We had a similar thing a few years ago and had no idea that there were no windows until we arrived. Given the age of the building, needless to say we contacted the provider immediately and demanded our money back before leaving and getting a hotel.

[@AlistairKiwi]

No windows? So, an airless AIrBnB? What a deathtrap.

[@kateemma22]

Windowless rooms? That’s not an apartment, that’s a store room!

[@mariekatherine5238]

I can’t imagine. If I reserved a room and discovered it had no window, I’d not stay there. I’m super conscious of fire hazard after 9-11, my first grade friend losing her two year old twin brother and sister in a house fire, and living in NYC on the cheap. There are lots of illegal apartments that are death traps.

[@GaiusBaltarrr]

A friend lived in that building until about a year before the fire. Seeing the inside, I actually commented that it would be a deathtrap in a fire. The friend showed me all the problems with their unit which were agregious, and even showed some of the complaint letters the landlord sent THEM for whatever the landlord felt they could do to squeeze more money out of them or force them to leave so he could short-term rent that one too.

[@newshodgepodge6329]

Why the hell was he in a minimum security facility?! Sounds like he's not the only one who could benefit from regular sessions on the proverbial couch.

[@yutakago1736]

There are buildings not suitable for AirBnB business. That is why in some countries, the AirBnB are banned.

[@David19553]

Excellent channel.

[@MTL.911]

Several bodies were only able to be found using specially-trained cadaver dogs belonging to the AQBRS (Québec Search and Rescue Volunteers' Association), an organisation that I'm proud to be a part of. This tragedy was beyond shocking to all of us locals - then, now and forever.

[@clarajohnson7698]

No that I think about it... I have stayed in multiple AirBnB locations in the US that had rooms without windows. This is probably a pretty widespread problem.

[@MrWombatty]

.......& no sprinklers either!?!

[@clarajohnson7698]

@@MrWombatty I can't remember

[@susangraham9879]

It's crazy to think the Mafia still exists today. It seems like such an old timey concept.

[@sgtmattkind]

Canada's legal system is just as trashy as the US

[@marclapin]

Really small nitpick, at 0:52 its the National Assembly of Quebec which is in Quebec City (not montreal)

[@DaleDix]

Really?

[@Frank7681]

@@DaleDixYes that is not in Montreal but in Quebec city wich is about 2 and a half hours from Montréal

[@martinc.720]

"really small nitpick" is another spelling for "It doesn't matter but I had to show people I know something".

[@Frank7681]

@@martinc.720 It’s not, it’s a pretty big difference worth mentioning

[@martinc.720]

@@Frank7681 A "pretty big difference" is not a "really small nitpick". You guys have to try and make some sense.

[@mariekatherine5238]

No windows, no thanks! I wouldn’t satay there. The same holds for a cruise. I pay more for a luxury cabin. If I’m paying that much for a cruise, another $1,000 for my comfort and safety is worth the money. This is very disgraceful as it was illegal. RIP to the souls lost.

[@Helladamnleet]

Wow, you mean unregulated lodging is a bad idea? Who would have thought Airbnb is objectively worse than staying at a hotel that is at least held to an absolute minimum standard?

[@JaniceVineyard-kf6wm]

Money, connections and corruption.

[@MrWombatty]

Same problems here in Australia, so good luck in getting those in power to introduce legislation to stop people using platforms like AirBnb to make huge profits! Politicians at all levels of government are the largest investors in this sort of property!

[@Anotherpuppychild]

Wow! This was an incredibly messy case.

[@BaconSquishy]

I was visiting Montreal for the first time last year and this happened the night before we were leaving, I remember hearing something about the fire and not thinking too much beyond that, thank you for sharing these extra details

[@ZestyFiestaSupreme]

3:19 I was hoping you wouldn't play the poor girl's 911 call. I'm assuming you didn't because that'd be distasteful and wrong but maybe it was because of inability to obtain the recording. Either way thank you for not making a horrible incident harder to learn about and respecting the victims.

[@darklordkuro7953]

Im from montreal, i remember this sad event. It was on the news for weeks after the event. Airbnb isnt well regarded in the city now. Many thing change since then anddl firefighter now enforced the fire code much more. As an exemple a few weeks ago the montreal grand prix was held. Its is the biggest weekend for bars and restaurent the the area near it. Some make nearly as much money on that day than the rest of the year. Some were forced to close and evacuate on that day. One had suspended non fire resistant flags on the ceiling in a way it could proagate a fire quickly. One of the owner was crying as she reambursed costumer that werent served yet.

[@caroleknappsmith9010]

Heartbreaking! My prayers with the families and friends who have lost loved ones, as well as survivors who continue to have health issues. This response is unacceptable. Stop playing pass the blame game, and get this issue Resolved, NOW!!!

[@CuriousMouseExploration]

In the USA, you're not allowed to have bedrooms with one egress to the outside. Whether or not you use such rooms as bedrooms is at your own risk, but you can not register them as bedrooms. We used our closed off bedroom as an office with an egress to the enclosed patio behind it so you could break the decorative window to get to another room for escape, a room with direct access to the backyard and the living room.

[@alisonwilson9749]

In the UK you are supposed to have direct access out of a bedroom to a hallway (i.e., not through another room) and window access to the outside as well unless it's a loft (where other rules apply). We have one room, described as a bedroom/study when we bought this place, which doesn't, as its exit goes through a shower room. Though that shower room is fully tiled and so unlikely to be a barrier in a fire, with the door to the hallway right next to the 'bedroom' door, we just use it as a storeroom. Even though it does have a ground-floor window an active person could easily get out through, if we ever need to use it as a bedroom, we'll have a door put in direct to the hallway. To my mind, every room should have 2 easy and fast ways out of any room, especially if you might be asleep in it, when you need more time to pull yourself together to get out.

[@ceciliayus7385]

I was just in old Montreal. I remember that building, but I thought it was just under construction for upkeep (like many other buildings).

[@evegasse6999]

Some of the images you show in the beginning aren't Montreal. For example, 17:20, that's the provincial parliament building in Quebec City...

[@martinc.720]

At the beginning, 17:20??

[@c-puff]

My friend in Poland moved out of her apartment because she lived in a historical building which could not be altered because it had to appeal to tourists. Moral of the story is don't live in historical parts of any city, I guess.

[@slimdarcy9503]

This 1 is just too frustrating to see to the end. It should never of happened

[@carolfrazer8067]

This just happened last week in Wisconsin. A whole family died in an AirBnB fire.

[@lightdreamer_]

"Canadian english is weird" Has said every person, not even knowing what a quebecois speaking english sounds like. Damn I love my province

[@revalesq]

Who speaks English? lol. I was in Granby with my Canadian wife who needed some documents due to living in Germany almost their entire life. We went to three federal agencies and not a single person spoke English: despite the Federal law. Anyone there who's giving a go of it speaking English for an interview deserves kudos: not disrespect.

[@lightdreamer_]

@@revalesq hey, I was once upon a time one of them. A little French nugget stumbling through English. Until I started being a lot better with the Internet and my accent faded away when I speak English. Also, you can tell some of them are just reading from a sheet. A lot of Quebecois speak English as much as my mom. Enough to make people "understand" but not enough for conversation. And I can confirm employers don't check if the English level written in your resume is true.

[@revalesq]

@@lightdreamer_ Actually on the desk of one worker was a sign upon which was written "French and English spoken here". They'd intentionally covered it with random paperwork. I'm sure Montreal is better with it. My wife was a child in Montreal with mostly English skills. I'm not trying to disrespect just telling it like it is. My Mom used to babysit for Steve Rogers. One of the best pitchers the Expos ever had. Admittedly that was in Springfield, MO, USA. Steve's hometown.

[@HarryLime-ge6dc]

The Canadian police seem a bit half-assed about their duty.

[@daviegriffin3539]

_Yeah... meanwhile in The USA, _*_Overreacting_*_ is part of their standardized Training Day._ 😳 🌐🤦🏽‍♂️

[@JimMilton-ej6zi]

Remember, the police aren't here to save you, so never expect them to, only you can save yourself when the moment comes. Even the firefighters need at least 5 minutes to get ready and drive to your location, and that's more than enough time to suffocate on smoke.

[@martinc.720]

"the Canadian police"? Who said that the federal police was involved in this?

[@Canleaf08]

Either it is the Surrete de Quebec, SPVM or the GRC / RCMP.

[@MrJakeros]

So in reality - the fire was caused by the lunatic - because he is one - but even so, the current conditions made it the perfect crime. I am in no way trying to make light of this atrocity, and pray that justice will be swift and merciless to those involved. But, there's no smoke without a fire, the fire in this case being the building's conditions.

[@marclabrecque266]

I lived in a almost neighbour building and slept through the whole thing. Remember waking up to a bunch of missed messages. The area remained smoky for quite long.

[@setoman1]

Your first mistake was choosing to stay at an airbnb 😩

[@Kahrahnus]

Mmmmm I have no windows, Australia- the rear of the apartment has glass sliding double doors. But no actual windows, not in the bedroom has always concerned me, but we do have fire alarms, sprinklers and regular intercom directed evacuation test runs….. Canvas Apartments fyi

[@user-mt4ku7jw1y]

No windows?? WTF??

[@brnoamik]

Sealed windows make a lot of sense once those Quebec gales set in.

[@ZolaClyde]

1:03 “An Airbnb guest relaxes in a centuries old building” ; 1:38 “the flames threaten the ‘ancient’ wooden beams that have supported the building for centuries” ; 1:53 “the William Watson Ogilve building was constructed in 1890” - 1890 is NOWHERE near ancient! Wtf!? Within 1 minute, only 2 minutes and 4 seconds into the video you’ve managed to contradict yourself or invalidate your descriptives like “ancient” and “centuries old. Why is this timeline so incomprehensibly confusing? I don’t know how many centuries old Montreal is, but it’s not ancient.

[@MarieLehleitner]

Montreal is one of the oldest cities in North America (founded mid-1600s). This building was in Old Montreal too, which has some buildings dating back to the 1600s and 1700s. So it really depends on your definition of ancient. Imo there don't tend to be a lot of even partially wooden structures that make it hundreds of years though.

[@ZolaClyde]

⁠​⁠@@MarieLehleitner Thanks! I didn’t know exactly when Montreal was founded - same year the Puritans landed in what’s now Boston after being kicked out of England. I wouldn’t consider the 1600s ancient… but I looked up its definition in Merriam-Webster and it was unsatisfactorily vague and seemed to say ‘it depends’ with more words. But the 1890’s are in no way ancient and that was my main point. I equate ancient with antiquity, mostly. The 1600s just don’t strike me as ancient, no matter the place, in non-colloquial usage. Relatively speaking, the 1600s weren’t that long ago. … And now I need to check a few more dictionaries for their definition of ancient since I’m now curious as to how historians define ancient.

[@sophiev1900]

Although I’m always happy to hear about my hometown, somethings just make me 🤦🏽‍♀️🙇🏽‍♀️

[@lonskyland6097]

Tragic😢

[@Lylizabeth]

I feel 2 things that would be interesting to cover would be The Hans river bridge collapse And The kiss club fire

[@robertwilloughby8050]

This is terrible. I had only vaguely heard of this last year. If you want another sad story, try the Lockington Rail Crash in 1986.

[@alisonwilson9749]

That sounds interesting..

[@maegenyoungs2591]

I’m sorry. But any time I stay somewhere. I actually check the fire alarms. And if I’m in multi floor buildings. I walk around looking at all the fire exits

[@Ahlurglgr]

Airbnb can't be held responsible. It's an informational service that serves as a connection between an owner and a tourist. It doesn't have any authority on any property and it can't even check if what owner said about the property is true or not. The only ones responsible for this is the owner for not fixing the problems with the building and the city for the lack of control

[@NiarahHawthorne]

Then Airbnb should not exist. Real sick of "business friendly" policy that just lets business get away with murder and worse. If you cannot ensure a basic level of safety as a corporation built on connecting landlords and tenants, you have zero business connecting landlords and tenants, period.

[@MegaBabykitten]

Im from canada go oftern to montreal next time i go to place Youville i will have a tought to all these familly how lost their life so sad 😰😰 afull burned alive wow R.I.P a really good documentary thanks

[@dumby88]

D'youville *

[@daviegriffin3539]

*Your sentiments are understood & also... try Grammarly™️.* 😳

[@Stijn5]

Like many buildings in historic district there are no windows? Wtf?

[@danikmcintyre2068]

there was at leat one airbnb apartment that had no windows

[@Dulcimertunes]

Soft on crime ends like this😢

[@JCBro-yg8vd]

Seems like Airbnb's business practices aren't all they've cracked up to be if they allowed for a firetrap like this to be rented out.

[@Mark_72]

I live in Montreal, and knew only about that fire and the victims. However I never watch or read legacies medias, I didn’t know it was such a sad story, with a serial killer involve.

[@airplanemaniacgaming7877]

Damn. Seeing the neighborhood reminds me of when I went on a school trip to Quebec City. Skipped Montreal, because they were having some huge race thing. Those buildings are beautiful, but dangerous if something happens.

[@knockeledup]

“Some huge race thing”? Ummm you mean the Formula 1 Grand Prix maybe?

[@thejaxter6384]

No windows!!!!!! I booked a hotel once, not knowing my room didn't have a window because it was in the basement. I went straight back to reception and told them it was unacceptable to put someone in such a room without telling them first. I was upgraded for free to a premier room because they were the only rooms available.

[@mayapilkey3577]

Air b&b actively encourages and allows illegal rentals as it makes them a shit ton of money

[@bongwelll]

I'd never sleep in a building without windows.

[@andrewdaley5480]

Same here

[@theamaranthineman574]

"Lawyer with a checkered history".... Uhm yeah. Might aswell just say laywer.

[@danielclute2069]

It seems like there should be more focus on the hockey mask wearing serial killer/arsonist. Why does that seem like an afterthought to this story? Why was he able to escape prison? And why does it seem like people are more mad at AirBnB than the guy that literally set the building on fire using accelerant? And if it's not him, who was it? That seems like the obvious major problem here.

[@rmslefttoe9024]

Because that building should not have been posted in Airbnb. Also if the fire alarms worked properly then they may have been able to get out on time and survive. Honestly, so many things went wrong with the building .

[@danielclute2069]

@@rmslefttoe9024 I'm not saying that there wasn't also some problems with the building that exacerbated the problem, but the literal cause of the fire was a psychopath who should not have been free to roam (or maybe someone else?). It seems blame should be placed upon the arsonist first and foremost, and then these other issues.

[@rmslefttoe9024]

@@danielclute2069 I get what you mean but like , I think the reason why the focus was not put on that guy compared to everything else was because the people that died shouldn’t have been there in the first place.

[@danielclute2069]

@@rmslefttoe9024 If those units weren't rented on AirBnB, I assume that they would have been rented as standard mid to long term units. Thus, probably the same amount of people would have been there. The substandard fire safety of the building was certainly a problem though. I'm thinking that people understandably want to hold other people accountable for this, and an incarcerated psychopath doesn't provide the desired amount of accountability. Suing the government for allowing him to escape and/or finding the true identity of the arsonist should be priority #1 imo.

[@rmslefttoe9024]

@@danielclute2069 yeah, I agree. The family of the victims are focusing on Airbnb bc if Airbnb did their job then the victims wouldn’t have been there.

[@will8026]

Wouldnt the owners of the B&B have to get city of Montreal permitting and submit plans for the changes they wanted to make? If it's the same as most cities here it seems to me the blame should lay in whomever gave out permitting to renovate.

[@knockeledup]

That costs money, which is why they didn’t do it. The Airbnb operation wasn’t legal so the city didn’t know about it.

[@pianomanhere]

No. Windows. Are we nuts?

[@pp3k3jamail]

💥💥 I would never stay in a apartment with no windows that's just foolish.

[@dvljet]

This building was never meant to be used for 18 units its orgional vocation was office space just like at least 80% of the buildings in old montreal are former offices or warehouses converted to condos . for a unit to be considered an apt it must have a means of egress meaning windows to escape in an emergency this building had done illegal renovations because they actually blocked off an emergency fire exit and did not even advise anyone . this building being it was used for offices at one time should have been equiped with a sprinkler system like most converted warehouses they tend to have sprinkler systems through out .

[@alisonwilson9749]

Indeed, and people don't sleep in offices, so they can respond much faster to fire alarms.

[@clapiotis]

How does someone rent and live in an apartment WITHOUT or GLUED WINDOWS? Who does that?

[@donaldpetersen2382]

Why would they need to be "realy sure" that there was an infraction to investigate? Just do your damn job.

[@JimMilton-ej6zi]

Because if they investigated every single thing then the queue of things to investigate would be decades long. If we only warned people about things that needed warnings then this would be a non issue, but unfortunately there are thousands of people who will report that their kid went missing even though their kid was in the other room and that clogs up more important things.

[@donaldpetersen2382]

@@JimMilton-ej6zi sounds like poor policy

[@martinc.720]

@@donaldpetersen2382 They are waiting for you to show them how it's done.

[@Henry-Navier_Forever]

If I remember correctly some got windows but it was impossible to open 😓😓😓

[@lutomson3496]

government is responsible for not keeping the arsonist in custody...hope the victims sue the govt

[@selanryn5849]

You must be American.

[@TheJFKExperience1963]

American comment moment

[@mastathrash5609]

Regardless , it doesn't Excuse keeping a diagnosed/convicted murderer/psychopath In minimum security and allow him to escape?! That just seems like sheeeer incompetence In the Canadian police And justice system and believe you me.... There's plenty of that In the US as well. corruption and bullshit Doesn't have borders

[@Tsumami__]

A building from 1890 hasn’t been standing for centuries and doesn’t have ancient beams of wood in it lmao

[@martinc.720]

how is this "lmao" funny? "Ancient" as in "old AF when compared to more moder buildings, and also really old for still being in use". "standing for centuries" refer to the buildings in that neighborhood.

[@alexisbl3634]

What is truly tragic is that there was another fire, still in the old port, same owner , exactly the same circumstances (no windows ect) and a woman and her child died , it happened in the summer of 2024 and guess what? The owner will not get charged, it's crazy

[@dale4231]

No fire alarms? No sprinklers?

[@CEO_of_FISH]

bruh i was in the hotel next to this building a few days ago. KZbin really knows everything

[@fivefootten]

Minimum security prison? Canada you have some explaining

[@MtHermit]

Canadian justice system, "Oh he's a convicted arsonist and murder with psychopathy. Minimum security should do. I'm sure he's sorry."

[@martinc.720]

So you just had to use a stereotype in a comment?

[@MtHermit]

@@martinc.720 Nope. Just going by what I saw in the video.

[@b4804514]

Having been a airbnb host for many years Airbnb is a useless and expensive for both guest and owners service. There is no one on the ground to do any inspections or qualify the units they are representing. For hosts airbnb could careless about the problems you are having and backs the guest 90% of the time. Airbnb should be held accountable for all units in its platform. Inspections should be done and hosts should have a human that can do inspections of problems with guests. Airbnb is poorly managed and unfortunately a monopoly

[@muhleka]

Omg I remember that day.... Yeah.... Corruption and illegal thing.... Classic momtréal......

[@alexanderdavidd]

Not all jurisdictions, even in the US, require windows in hotel rooms/ airbnbs. How do you expect a square building with exterior and interior units to have windows in the interior units? Cruise ships have even started putting screens in their interior rooms to give the illusion of a window, except the only exit is the main entrance.

[@mariekatherine5238]

And that’s why I pay more for a cabin with a window!

[@Canleaf08]

Believe it or not, I stay in a windowless cabin on a Marine Atlantic / Marine Atlantique ferry.

[@alisonwilson9749]

Better designed buildings don't have windowless rooms. You can have central open wells so that at least every room that may be slept in (when people need more time to get themselves awake and out) has a window, and this ought always to be the case. If you don't regulate properly, you will get shit buildings. And shit ships, too, of course.

[@stuplays6632]

1:53 .... this is the moment he stops telling you what's about to happen... and starts telling you what actually happened 😂, damn American style 😂😂

[@MiddlePath007]

The guy said they were demonstrating against the building because it contributed to the housing crisis... as in they wanted the place to be lived in permanently, not rented to tourists. He wanted put families in there, he didn't care about the code