Woman dies in major house fire in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

The bodyofawoman in her 30s has been found in the rubble of a homethat caughtfirein Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, about 40 kilometres southeast of Montreal, early Monday.

It started at around 4:20 a.m. in the one-storey residence on Des Patriotes Road, firefighters say.

Once the fire was under control around 8 a.m., firefighters searched for the woman, who was considered missing at the time,Saint-Jean firefighter Louis-PhilippeTrahansaid.

The investigationhas been transferred over to Quebec provincial police.

Aman in his20swas injured,treated by paramedics and taken to hospital.

About 30 firefighters were on the scene of the four-alarm fire Monday morning, including crews from the neighbouring municipality of Saint-Alexandrewho came to help.

The cause of the fire is currently undetermined,Trahansaid.

Gilbert Bergeron, wholives in the neighbouring residence, said he was awakened by the flames.

"That it happened on New Year's Eve that is hard," Bergeron said.

He said he doesn't know the people who live in the building that burned down, but that his home is open as a refuge.

"It would be a pleasure to make sure they are not in the street on New Year's Day," Bergeron said.

With files from CBC Valeria Cori-Manocchio, Radio-Canada's Fannie Bussires McNicoll and The Canadian Press