Mount Royal Ablaze: A Dramatic Fight to Save Montreal's Green Heart

Montreal held its breath as a significant wildfire erupted on its beloved Mount Royal, scorching two hectares of its precious natural landscape. The blaze, located perilously close to Beaver Lake on the mountain's north side, triggered a massive emergency response that saw firefighters battle fiercely to protect the city's iconic urban park.

The alarm was raised on a tense Thursday afternoon as flames and smoke began to plume from the densely wooded slopes.

What started as a smaller incident rapidly grew, consuming approximately 20,000 square metres – an area equivalent to about five football fields. The proximity to popular recreational spots and residential areas heightened the urgency of the situation, drawing concerned eyes from across the city.

Montreal's fire department (SIM) immediately mobilized a formidable force, deploying over 60 firefighters and 20 vehicles to the scene.

Their efforts were bolstered by crucial support from SOPFEU, Quebec's provincial forest fire prevention agency, which brought specialized expertise in combating forest blazes. City parks department personnel and even private contractors joined the coordinated response, working tirelessly to establish firebreaks and prevent the inferno from spreading further into the fragile ecosystem.

The preliminary investigations point to a likely human cause for the devastating fire, with a discarded cigarette butt being a strong suspect.

This stark reminder underscores the critical importance of vigilance, especially during dry conditions, and the potential for a single careless act to ignite such widespread destruction. The incident has reignited calls for increased public awareness regarding fire prevention in natural spaces.

The wildfire's impact extended beyond the immediate environmental damage.

As a precautionary measure, the Mount Royal cemetery was closed, and nearby roads were sealed off. Most notably, a day camp operating in the vicinity was safely evacuated, ensuring the well-being of all children and staff amidst the unfolding emergency. The air quality in the area was also a concern, as plumes of smoke drifted across parts of the city.

As evening fell, a sense of cautious relief began to settle over the city.

Thanks to the relentless efforts of the emergency crews, the fire was declared largely under control and contained. SIM chief of operations, Martin Farmer, confirmed the containment, though firefighters continued their painstaking work well into the night and the following days, meticulously extinguishing hot spots and ensuring there was no risk of reignition.

The road to recovery for the scarred sections of Mount Royal will be long, but the swift and collaborative response averted an even greater disaster, preserving much of this essential green lung for future generations.