The fire that forced the staff of Le Devoir to leave their building located in downtown Montreal is now under control.
Brian Myles, the director of the French-language newspaper, said on Twitter that staff members are out of danger but that the building was heavily damaged by the flames.
“We are safe and sound at Le Devoir,” he said.
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The fire broke out on the building’s roof shortly before 6 p.m. Monday evening after a cigarette was left in a flower pot.
Lisa-Marie Gervais, a journalist with Le Devoir, said the fire alarm didn’t go off and staff left the offices on the ninth floor when they started to smell smoke.
After several hours, firefighters were able to put out the flames around 8:45 p.m.
Le Devoir said its online website is not affected by the fire and it plans to publish a newspaper on Tuesday.
“I don’t know if we’ll be 100 per cent like normal,” said Myles. “But we’re publishing because we don’t know how to do anything else.”
Area closed off to traffic
The city’s fire department warned residents it might have to cut power in the area.
Montreal police officers are still at the scene to help direct traffic.
The public is being asked to avoid the area around Ste-Catherine and Berri streets.
— with files from the Canadian Press
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