Great Fire of 1852

The fire occurred at a time when the city's recently constructed reservoir, located at the site of today's Saint-Louis Square, was drained and closed for repairs.

The first fire broke out at a tavern on St. Lawrence Boulevard and spread quickly, fanned by strong winds and hot, dry summer weather.

This meant mostly Irish and Chinese, who came to North America in search of work but ironically were the ones who were most affected by the fire.

The new steam fire engine allowed the city to hire the men who were trained in the use of the machinery and in the art of firefighting.

This new technology and the need for professional firefighters changed the Montreal Fire Brigade forever.

The disaster led to the construction of a newer and larger reservoir and to the dismissal of the city's chief engineer, who had coordinated Montreal's all-volunteer fire companies, for failing to respond quickly enough to stop the spread of the blaze.

With the progressive movement, newer and safer houses needed to be built in order to provide shelter to the new inhabitants of the city.

New fireproof technology was introduced to building architecture in order to prevent destructive fires.

[5] A witness to the rebuilding stage stated that the new buildings were of greater quality and that the lots that were not being built on were some of the best areas in the city.