The Great Fire of Montreal refers to two major fires in the city’s history, one in 1852 and another in 1922, both of which caused significant destruction.

1852 Great Fire

• Date: July 8, 1852

• Cause: Likely started in a house on St. Mary Street (now Notre-Dame Street) due to accidental negligence.

• Impact:

• Burned about 1/4 of the city.

• Destroyed over 1,200 buildings, including homes, businesses, and churches.

• Left nearly 10,000 people homeless (around a quarter of the population at the time).

• The fire spread quickly due to wooden structures and poor fire prevention measures.

1922 Great Fire

• Date: November 18, 1922

• Location: The fire largely consumed the Laurier Palace Theatre, where the flames started.

• Impact:

• Significant destruction in the downtown area, though it was not as widespread as the 1852 fire.

• Highlighted the risks of outdated infrastructure and prompted safety reforms.

Both events underscore the challenges cities faced in fire prevention during those periods and contributed to changes in building materials, fire codes, and urban planning.