A fire broke out Thursday morning near the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde (TNM), in downtown Montreal. Firefighters were able to quickly bring the flames under control and no damage was reported to the theater building.
On images relayed on social networks, you could see thick columns of black smoke nearby, but the fire was more “spectacular than serious”, said the Montreal Fire Safety Service (SSIM).
Firefighters also confirmed that no one was injured in the blaze. The fire is said to have taken shape in the part of the TNM where expansion work is currently underway. The flames did not spread to the original building.
It is still too early, however, to say whether the activities of the TNM will be disrupted by this event. In an interview with ICI Première, the director general of the theater, Lorraine Pintal, said that she will have more information to disclose around noon on Thursday.
The representations of Seven branches of the Ōta River, a staging by Robert Lepage, are due to begin Friday at the TNM. Lorraine Pintal is still hopeful that the show will go as planned.
Shortly before 9 a.m., the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) is still providing assistance to firefighters by ensuring the security of a large perimeter that has been erected. Thus, the street closures include, to the south, René-Lévesque Boulevard West, between Saint-Urbain and Jeanne-Mance streets.
The SPVM headquarters is located a few dozen meters from the scene of the fire, as is the Complexe Desjardins.
The TNM, which has existed since 1951, occupies a building that was built in 1912.
The fire is not of suspicious origin, and everything indicates that the blaze is attributable to construction work.
With The Canadian Press