The fire at the Convent of the Good Shepherd last spring was allegedly caused by a loose exhaust pipe inside the heritage building, we learn from a $10.5 million lawsuit against the city of Montreal.
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“The exhaust pipe of the Chapel generator would have been installed improperly and, as a result, the combustion gases would have heated the steel chimney, causing pyrolysis of the wood of the Chapel roof,” we mention in the lawsuit filed on Wednesday in the Montreal courthouse.
The housing cooperative Souver à la Vie and its insurance company La Souveraine are demanding a total of $10.5 million from the city of Montreal for the damage caused to the monastery, since the latter is the owner. However, the amount could be higher as work is still underway on the 27 residential units.
It took more than 24 hours to extinguish the major fire that broke out on May 25th in the chapel, which was built around 1846. The exact cause was still unknown to this day.
“There was gross negligence in fighting the fire [Service des incendies de Montréal] “We also claim in the lawsuit.
Archive photo QMI Agency
The Convent of the Good Shepherd, which was declared a cultural monument by the Quebec government in 1979, included a recognized concert hall, but also 37 housing units for the elderly, a daycare center and condominiums.
The responsible city
The housing association and its insurer claim that the city “should have taken all necessary measures to ensure that the chapel’s installations, in particular the generator and its exhaust pipe, comply with regulations.”
The latter is therefore “responsible for damage resulting from the lack of maintenance and installation of the Chapelle generator and the exhaust pipe,” it is said.
According to the lawsuit, the city, the Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal and the Montreal Fire Department “refuse, fail or fail to pay any sum to La Souveraine and la Coop, despite their proper obligation to do so.” “.
The listed monastery must be rebuilt and restored, said Mayor Valérie Plante during the fire.
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