Bar neighbours risk blazes

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by Kristian Gravenor

You know it's not good when police strongly recommend you that "make sure your smoke detector is functioning," as Doug Hurley of our local PD advises those living above or near local bars. Casualties were narrowly avoided as three more bars were set ablaze Monday morning, raising the total to a dozen drinking establishments barbecued over the last three weeks, mostly in St-Henri, Côte-St-Paul and the Point. The fire that displaced 50 residents near the Two Aces bar could have ended worse. "Police happened to be a block away at a traffic accident at 2:20 a.m. when they noticed the smoke," says Hurley. "They came to the scene and woke everybody up. It was lucky."

But the risk of nearby property turning into a giant flaming drink isn't legal grounds for breaking a lease, according to a Rental Board agent, who suggests that tenants know the risks when choosing to live near a bar. Not so, say cops. "Bars being attacked so often is relatively new," he says, hinting at many upcoming arrests. "The bikers are fighting for control because the dealer in each bar grosses a million [dollars] a year probably," says Hurley, who counsels patience. "Whether it's terrorism on an international scale or by biker gangs, it's going to be a long, long war." If the analogy is useful, apprehending gang bosses might not slow the violence. "When the boss is gone, the young bucks want to move up and take over."