Montreal police say an early morning fire on Christmas Eve outside the city’s Notre-Dame Basilica was not intentionally set.
Police spokeswoman Const. Veronique Dubuc says arson investigators were at the scene on Sunday and determined the fire’s origin was electrical.
Police began an investigation after firefighters found what they believed were traces of accelerant.
Firefighters were called to the historic church in Old Montreal around 2:30 a.m. after a fire began on a construction scaffold being used for renovation work on the building’s exterior.
Police say there was no damage to the building, which is a national historic site.
Christmas masses at the basilica are scheduled to go ahead as planned.