Following a devastating fire at a historic building near the Jacques-Cartier Bridge, traffic on the crucial route linking Montreal and the South Shore has been significantly impacted. Despite some progress, the aftermath of the blaze has led to the continued closure of a lane on Friday morning.
Nathalie Lessard, spokesperson for The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges, reported that while De Lorimier Avenue briefly reopened on Thursday, it had to close again for further post-fire work.
The fire, which reduced the century-old Familex factory to rubble on Tuesday night, prompted an investigation by Montreal police’s arson squad to determine the cause of the incident. Fortunately, canine units confirmed that there were no individuals inside the building at the time of the fire.
Firefighters battled the blaze tirelessly from Wednesday morning until the early hours of Thursday, ultimately leading to the complete demolition of the structure. While arson was initially ruled out as a cause, authorities were forced to shut down the Jacques-Cartier Bridge for several hours due to its proximity to the burning building.
Efforts are underway by the Montreal Fire Department (SIM) and the City of Montreal’s public works department to address the necessary repairs to restore normal traffic flow on the critical bridge route between Montreal and the South Shore.
