Montreal Fire Forces Jacques-Cartier Bridge Closure

A fire engulfing a vacant historic building in Montreal has led to the closure of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge on Wednesday.

The bridge has been completely shut since 6:15 a.m., causing traffic delays on the South Shore during the morning rush hour.

Martin Guilbault, operations chief with the Montreal Fire Department, said it remains uncertain when the bridge will reopen. Firefighters have positioned a fire truck on the bridge to help combat the blaze. While the bridge itself is unharmed, officials are closely monitoring the industrial building at 1600 De Lorimier Ave., which could potentially collapse. Due to safety concerns, crews have been unable to enter the building and have been operating in “defensive mode” since Tuesday night.

At the height of the incident, about 120 firefighters were deployed to tackle the four-alarm fire, which began around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday on the first floor. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire or whether anyone was inside at the time.