MONTREAL – The damage to the rear section of St. James United Church after a single-alarm fire early Monday was limited, at first view, to "maybe $20,000 to $30,000," a Montreal fire department official estimated.
"It's mostly water damage," operations chief Mario Trottier added.
"Because it's a heritage building, it could be more," he cautioned. "These costs are very difficult to estimate."
The fire originated on the third floor, he added, in what "appears to be a kitchen area."
A single alarm was sounded at 4:15 a.m., with flames reported.
The department brought out about 20 firefighters, Trottier said. They had the fire completely out by about 5:30 a.m.
A sprinkler system limited the spread of the flames, Trottier said.
"I don't believe" the church sanctuary suffered any damage, he added.
"There is no obvious cause," Trottier said, so while the origin is "likely not criminal," arson investigators have been called in.
The church, a city landmark, is located on the north side of Ste. Catherine St. W., between St. Alexandre and City Councillors Sts.
It was originally a Methodist church, with construction completed in June 1889.
The twin-tower, Gothic-style church had been threatened with demolition during the late 1970s.
It was designated a historic monument by the Quebec government in 1980.
A block of three-storey commercial buildings had kept the front facade hidden from the view of passers-by from 1926 until 2005
.....................................Cheers ! Have Fun and Remember Verdun............................................. - Les
1 comment:
Most of us,probably remember it more,when it looked like this,surrouded by storefronts, & a neon Saint James United sign.that was always unique for a church. at least I though it was different.
Cheers ! HF&RV ....... - Les
Post a Comment