A fire in an empty building in Montreal forced officials to shut down the northbound lanes of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge at the start of the incident. Radio Canada
A fire in a vacant industrial building near the Jacques-Cartier Bridge caused major traffic trouble during the Wednesday morning rush hour. Montreal police have now taken charge of the investigation into the incident, which forced officials to close the bridge entirely for several hours.
Fire crews rushed to the scene late Tuesday night after flames broke out near the corner of De Lorimier Avenue and Logan Street on the Montreal side of the bridge. Firefighters arrived around 11:30 p.m. and found a three-story industrial building burning.
Fire spreads through empty building
The fire began on the first floor and quickly moved upward, filling the area with thick smoke. Officials said the building had stood vacant for years, but they could not confirm whether anyone remained inside when the fire started.
Because of the heavy smoke and concerns about the building’s stability, officials decided to close the bridge early Wednesday morning. The closure began at 6 a.m., just as commuters headed toward the South Shore.
Safety fears prompt full closure
The federal agency that manages the bridge shut down traffic after assessing the risk. Smoke drifted across the bridge, and authorities worried that parts of the building could collapse onto the bridge’s support pillars.
The decision caused long delays across surrounding routes, as drivers scrambled to find alternate crossings during peak travel hours.
Lanes reopen gradually
By Wednesday afternoon, officials reopened two southbound lanes toward the South Shore. Later in the day, crews also reopened two northbound lanes heading into Montreal. However, the exit ramp leading to De Lorimier Avenue remained closed as cleanup work continued.
Montreal police spokeswoman Const. Jeanne Drouin said officers had not yet gained access to the site.
"For now, what I can tell you is that we are … investigating a fire of an undetermined nature," Drouin told reporters.
Crews move to demolish building
Montreal fire department division chief Martin Guilbault said firefighters brought the blaze under control later Wednesday morning. Heavy equipment arrived soon after to begin tearing down the damaged structure.
"The advertising panels on the roof of the building are our biggest concern right now," Guilbault said.
He added that crews would focus on demolition before reopening all bridge lanes.
"The next steps are to work on demolishing the building, and as soon as we're sure the structure is safe, we'll reopen the (bridge) lanes," Guilbault said.
Historic site with a long past
The building dates back to 1910 and played a unique role in the bridge’s design. Its position forced the bridge’s architect to curve the surrounding structure. Over the years, several companies used the building, including soap maker Joseph Barsalou, Procter & Gamble, and pharmaceutical firm Familex.
The property has stood empty for some time, and the local borough had begun discussions about its future before the fire.
