A fire broke out at the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde in Montreal’s entertainment district on Thursday morning.
Thierry Laforce / QMI Agency
According to initial information, the fire broke out around 7.30 a.m. in the extension of the theater currently under construction at the intersection of Sainte-Catherine and Saint-Urbain streets.
“The embers would have contacted urethane insulation and would have spread quickly,” said Patrick Fournel, department head of the Montreal Fire Department (SIM), in an interview with TVA Nouvelles.
Thierry Laforce / QMI Agency
Fortunately, the flames did not spread to other areas of the building.
The fire that broke out in the TNM is now under control. Firefighters work on the smoke extraction.
Thanks to @MTL_SIM for his excellent work. #polmtl
— Valerie Plante (@Val_Plante) August 18, 2022
“We are waiting for the end of the operation to see the extent of the damage inside. [de la salle des spectacles]. Did the smoke come into the room? That has yet to be decided,” added Mr. Fournel.
Building fire – Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest and Rue Saint-Urbain crossing – Second alarm – Possible power failure. Please avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/H6LYPiQz70
— MTL Fire Protection (@MTL_SIM) August 18, 2022
A second alert had to be raised by the Montreal Fire Department (SIM), meaning around 90 firefighters were on hand to bring the blaze under control.
The fire was brought under control around 8:10 a.m.
Mr Fournel said no one was injured and everyone could have evacuated the scene quickly.
It was an accidental fire.
More details to come.
- Hear culture journalist Marika Simard on Alexandre Moranville-Ouellet’s mic on QUB radio: