A major fire broke out during the night from Thursday to Friday in a century-old building in Old Montreal, leading to a major deployment of firefighters in the area on Friday morning.
According to authorities, the fire broke out around 2:40 a.m. in the building located at 400 rue Notre-Dame, near rue Bonsecours.
The fire apparently started on the ground floor of the building. The cause is still unknown, but it will be the subject of an investigation by the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM).
The Montreal Fire Department activated a general alarm to combat the blaze. Around 7 a.m., the operation was still in progress and smoke continued to rise from the area.
Several streets are closed to traffic by the SPVM near city hall to allow firefighters to do their work. The public is asked to avoid the area. Power outages are also possible in the surrounding area.
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