A fire in a historic, vacant building in Montreal has caused the closure of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge, disrupting morning rush hour traffic. The fire, which broke out at around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, was a four-alarm blaze, with over 100 firefighters battling the flames. The building, constructed in 1910, had been vacant for several years and was set for redevelopment. The bridge, which is not directly affected by the fire, has been closed since 6:15 a.m., causing congestion on the city's South Shore. Firefighters are working to extinguish the blaze, but the industrial building at 1600 De Lorimier Ave. may collapse, raising safety concerns. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and it's unclear when the bridge will reopen to traffic. The building's history includes notable occupants like Joseph Barsalou, a pioneering businessman and soap manufacturer, and it has been a subject of recent redevelopment plans. The Ville-Marie borough and developers were discussing a project to integrate the heritage building into the Quartier des lumières neighborhood. The fire is the latest in a series of incidents involving vacant buildings in Montreal, highlighting the ongoing challenge of fire safety in these structures.
