Investigation begins into fire at Montreal's historic Robillard Building

Police arson squad investigators are waiting for the all-clear before they can access the site where a historic building burned down in Montreal's Chinatown yesterday.

The Robillard Building on St-Laurent Boulevard served as a theatre, cabinet of curiosities and venue for travelling performance artists. It went up in flames around 11 a.m. Thursday, sending billowing smoke into the air.

The investigation into the cause was transferred to the Montreal police.

• Fire destroys historicbuilding famed for Canada's 1st film screening in 1896

Early Friday morning, firefighters on one side of the building were dousing hotspots while on the other side, an excavator knockeddown what little was still standing.

But work was delayed for about an hour when crews detected a gas leak.

Montreal fire departmentChief Serge Bienvenutold CBC'sFrench-language service, Radio-Canada, that during the demolition, debris fell on the gas line, which had been capped yesterday.

Police spokesman Const.Jean-Pierre Brabant said an expert assessment must now be carried out in order to make sure the site is safefor investigators to enter.

Brabantsaid it's too early to speculate about what may have caused the fire, as the investigation is just getting started.

Police have met witnesses and will meet the building's owner.

Roads closed in vicinity of Chinatown

The building, at the corner of St-Laurent Boulevard and Viger Street, had been vacant for sometime when the fire started.

• Montreal'sRobillardBuilding: From film landmark to neglect and flames

It was in the midst of being refurbished, but work had to be stopped last year after workers discovered asbestos in the building.

Montreal's Robillard Building demolished after fire

8 years ago

Duration 0:24

Crews demolished what's left of Montreal's Robillard Building, the site of the first movie screening in Canada, overnight after fire gutted the building.

Road closures in the area will continue until Monday at 9 p.m. as debris is cleared and inspections of neighbouring buildings take place. The roads include:

• Viger Avenue between St. Dominique and St. Urbainstreets.
• Boulevard St-Laurent between St-Antoine and de laGauchetire streets.
• Clark Street between de laGauchetire Street and Viger Avenue.