The Bon Pasteur Chapel on Sherbrooke Street East in Montreal caught fire late Thursday afternoon.
The Montreal Fire Department (SIM) received a call at around 4:30 p.m. regarding smoke coming from the building.
The fire, which started from the attic, spread quickly, forcing a fifth alarm to be sounded and 150 firefighters deployed, said Robert Rousseau, department head at SIM.
By 7 p.m., the flames were still not under control.
One firefighter was injured but refused ambulance transport, Mr Rousseau said, but said no other person was injured.
According to TVA Nouvelles, there should be a show tonight.
“We could smell the burning wood,” said a woman who was part of the choir scheduled to perform in the chapel.
A major fire broke out at the historic Bon-Pasteur Chapel at the intersection of Sherbrooke and Saint-Dominique streets in downtown Montreal. Please avoid the area.
It’s still too early to see the damage the precious asset has suffered…
— Valerie Plante (@Val_Plante) May 25, 2023