The red-roofed motel north of Mont Orford in the Eastern Townships was engulfed in flames on Friday morning. Firefighters were called to the Motel de la Pente Douce at 6:30 a.m. as smoke and flames billowed from the building, located on Rivière-aux-Cerises Road in Magog, about 40 kilometres from the U.S. border. Teams from Sherbrooke, Memphrémagog and other municipalities provided support, resulting in more than three dozen firefighters at the scene. Authorities are reporting no injuries. Magog Fire Department Chief Daniel Comeau told Noovo Info that there was no risk of the fire spreading. “When we arrived on the scene, the fire was well ahead of us,” said Comeau. “We’re avoiding sending personnel inside. [...] We’re fighting the fire from the outside.” Comeau added that the fire spread quickly through the attic of the old building. An investigation is underway into what caused the fire.
