Smoke blankets Montreal as recycling plant fire prompts health warning, investigation
Posted on: Apr 23, 2026 18:42 IST | Posted by: Cbc
Piles of scrap metal and batteries burnt in the courtyard of a recycling set in Montreal’s eastward terminate on th, causing a plume of thick, white smoke to drape the city in acrid-smelling fumes.
The fire at the recycling plant, the American Iron and Medical (AIM) facility located in Montréal-Est, prompted an investigation by Quebec's Environment Ministry and a health warning from Santé Montréal.
And the City of Montreal announced that it is revoking the company’s operating permit, citing repeated pollution violations.
“Despite repeated requests from the City of Montreal over the years to bring the site into compliance, repeated excessive levels of PCBs, particulate matter, and metals continue to be measured at the property line of the company’s site,” said Rosiane Tessier, a spokesperson for the city’s executive committee.
Firefighters have been battling the blaze since around 5:45 a.m. They say industrial material is burning in the plant’s courtyard near the corner of Henri Bourassa East and Rodolphe Forget boulevards.
More than 20 firefighting vehicles have been deployed to try to put out the fire.
But heavy smoke billowed from the site and snarled traffic around the plant.
Quebec's Environment Ministry says it was notified at 6:30 a.m. Of a fire in the plant's courtyard and says the fire began as a battery fire that spread to a pile of scrap metal.
The plume of white smoke is billowing towards the southwest, the Environment Ministry says — aided by strong winds.
Environment Canada says wind speeds are 20 kilometres per hour, with gusts of 40 kilometres per hour, out of the northwest.
The ministry has so far issued no evacuation or confinement notice.
A mobile laboratory has been deployed to the area to attempt to determine the risk caused by the fumes.
Santé Montréal issued a notice on social media warning that the fire was affecting air quality.
The warning says people experiencing symptoms like chest pain should stay indoors, close their windows and reduce outdoor physical activity.
Young children, people with respiratory illnesses, pregnant people, seniors and those working outside are at higher risk.
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