Jacques-Cartier Bridge reopens lanes in both directions after major fire at historic building

The Jacques Cartier Bridge was reopened to traffic in both directions just in time for the afternoon commute on Wednesday after a major fire nearby completely shut down the link between Montreal and the South Shore.

The fire, at a vacant building near the foot of the bridge on de Lorimier Avenue at the corner of Logan Street, and subsequent bridge closure caused traffic chaos across the Island of Montreal.

Engineers inspected the bridge early Wednesday afternoon, and two lanes heading toward the South Shore were reopened to traffic.

Lanes to Montreal remained closed until 4 p.m., when officials confirmed that two lanes would be open in each direction.

The exit lane of the Jacques Cartier Bridge toward de Lorimier Avenue South were still closed, as well as the multipurpose path.

The bridge was closed because firefighters needed access to it to attack the fire.

“The fire has spread to the entire building,” explained Éric Lafrance, section chief of the Montreal Fire Department (SIM), on Wednesday morning.

Lafrance warned that a security perimeter was also set up in case the building collapsed.

• READ MORE: What to know about the historic Familex factory building that caught fire in Montreal

Montreal Fire Department Operations Chief Martin Guilbault added that the freezing weather hindered the firefighters’ ability to battle the blaze.

“With the freezing temperature right now, it’s really hard for us to work,” he said. “Water is freezing, equipment is getting cold.”

The building is the former Barsalou/Familex factory, which was built in 1910 and occupied by soap manufacturer Joseph Barsalou.

READ MORE: What to know about the historic Familex factory building that caught fire in Montreal

Its placement required the Jacques-Cartier Bridge to include a bend in its design to go around it.

While trying to extinguish the blaze, firefighters are also starting to dismantle large billboards in the area to prevent them from collapsing.

Case transferred

The Montreal Fire Department says the case has been transferred to the Montreal police arson squad.

Police spokesperson Jeanne Drouin notes that there were no reported injuries, but says officers have not yet been able to enter the building due to safety concerns.

“It’s still unknown if anyone was inside when the fire broke out,” she said. “For now, we are investigating a fire of unknown causes, but we are not investigating a criminal arson at this point, but it’s something that is on the table that will be investigated.”

When asked if people may have been living in the vacant building, Drouin would only say that investigators are looking at all hypotheses.