Great Fire in Old Montreal

A violent fire broke out in a building on Notre-Dame Street in Montreal on Friday evening, very close to Quebecor’s offices.

5 people were required for the fire which broke out around 8:15 pm^e The alarm required the intervention of approximately sixty vehicles from nearly 150 firefighters.

Nearby buildings, including Quebecor’s offices, were quickly evacuated.

QMI Agency

Several witnesses at the scene reportedly heard the explosion.

QMI Agency

Louis-Philippe Drolet, co-owner of KO Group, who works in television, watched the firefighters’ work with concern last night. His business is located in offices in a building that shares a common wall with the burned building.

“We know there is damage to one of our floors. We don’t know anymore. Smoke, water damage, worries us.

He says that the burnt 4-storey building is of commercial type and has been abandoned for more than five years.

“The windows were boarded up. I don’t know what they want to do there as a project.

At 10 p.m., firefighters were still dousing the building with flames still visible.

Behind the burning building, hundreds of residential towers were evacuated on rue Sainte-Antoine.

Stephen, one of the tower residents, worries, “I don’t know if I can go back at night. I came and it was already like that. I couldn’t go in. »

Brigitte, one of the evacuees, said it was unclear whether the move was a precautionary measure or whether the 34-storey building where she lives was damaged.

“We have no information. I think it will be a while before we go back,” he said.