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 in the extension of the theater currently under construction at the intersection of Sainte-Catherine and Saint-Urbain streets broke out around 7.20 a.m. and was brought under control around 8.10 a.m.
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
The flames reportedly erupted from the roof.
Thierry Laforce / QMI Agency
“The embers would have contacted urethane insulation and spread quickly,” said Patrick Fournel, Montreal Fire Department (SIM) department manager.
Fortunately, the flames did not spread to other areas of the building.
Thierry Laforce / QMI Agency
A second alarm was triggered by the SIM, which brought about 90 firefighters to the scene 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 that everyone was able to evacuate the site quickly.
Hear culture journalist Marika Simard on Alexandre Moranville-Ouellet’s mic on QUB radio:
It is currently not possible to predict whether the smoke has reached the theater or whether the theater season can begin as planned.
The fire forced the postponement of three performances of Robert Lepage’s play The Seven Branches of the Ta River.
The fire, which broke out around 7:30 a.m. in the extended rear section and forced a second alarm to go off, forced the Montreal Theater management to suspend performances on August 19, 20 and 21. The new dates are not yet known and will be announced shortly.
Roy & Turner Communications publicist Martine Laforce told Agence QMI that the smoke and water affecting the TNM’s existing building justified the postponement of the first three performances. In addition to cleaning, the building at the crossroads of Sainte-Catherine Ouest and Saint-Urbain streets, in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles, needs airing.
According to the management of TNM and Robert Lepage’s company Ex Machina, the other appointments, which will take place on August 26th, 27th and 28th and September 3rd and 4th, will indeed take place according to the planned schedule.