The Fire of 1916 - Ottawa, Ontario - Famous Fires on Waymarking.com

The Library of Parliament, located behind the Centre Block, was connected to the main complex by a single corridor. The library clerk at the time, Michael MacCormac, secured the library's iron doors before the fire could spread into that area. The Library of Parliament was thus saved from destruction. While the Centre Block burnt to the ground, it was rebuilt soon after.

Background Information:

"At 8:37 p.m. on February 3rd, 1916, the alarm was raised that there was a fire in the Centre Block. By the next morning the building was a smoking ruin, encrusted with ice. Only the Library survived because of the foresight of librarian Alpheus Todd in insisting on iron fire doors and clerk "Connie" MacCormac's quick thinking in ordering them to be slammed shut before evacuating the building.

A group of firemen hosing down the Senate wing of the old Centre Block It was unbelievable. Across the country headlines screamed the news, 'Parliament Buildings Destroyed by Fire', 'Parliament Buildings Gone'. In fact, the departmental buildings were untouched, and the library was saved. But it was bad enough. How could this have happened? Almost immediately, speculation began that a spy had deliberately set the fire but it proved to be something far less sinister.

The burning of the Centre Block made international news. That evening, a gentleman in the Reading Room in the north west part of the building noticed something, probably a cigar, smouldering in a wastebasket. It happened all the time. As he left the room, he called it to the attention of a clerk but it was already too late. The embers had come to life and spread with amazing speed. The room, panelled with wood, was littered with newspapers and magazines. Within minutes the fire had spread to the corridors and smoke began to fill the building. The interior of the Centre Block was finished with wood, the walls had recently been oiled and the floor varnished. It couldn't have been worse.

Reading room in the old Centre BlockThe house was sitting that evening when suddenly the doors burst open and a breathless clerk announced that the building was on fire. He later apologized to the house for his abrupt manner but apparently some of those present were still not impressed with the urgency of the situation. Some women in the gallery went back for their fur coats, and perished.

Sir Robert BordenPrime Minister Robert Borden was in one of the offices when he was alerted and escaped by crawling along the corridors on his hands and knees. Others formed human chains to find their way through the thick smoke. Some paused in their flight to grab furniture, artwork or papers. The portrait of Queen Victoria hanging in the Commons was rescued for the second time that night. As the fire intensified, parts of the building started to collapse and some were feared lost under the rubble.

The fire lit up the night sky as the city watched the spectacle in horror. From a third storey window a few blocks away, the granddaughter of Thomas Fuller watched as his masterpiece was destroyed. Shortly after midnight the great bell in the Victoria Tower crashed to the ground. There was a high wind out of the north west that night. It caught the fire just west of the library and swept it towards the senate. The fire department worked through the night to bring the blaze under control and it looked as though they had succeeded when it suddenly sprang to life again in the senate. It was still burning the next day.The Senate wing of the old Centre Block, still burning the next morning

The scene the following morning was desolate. Piles of rescued furniture were heaped here and there. Groups of shivering firemen wrapped their hands around steaming cups of coffee for warmth. The towering form of the library was shrouded by billowing smoke while the ruined Centre Block was caked with ice.

Before the fire was even under control, Prime Minister Borden and his cabinet were meeting in the Chateau Laurier to make plans. A temporary legislature would have to be found until the Centre Block could be rebuilt. No time could be wasted in getting back to the business of government. There was a war on and the country needed to know that its leaders were in control of the situation."

Reference: (visit link)

Type of Structure: Public building Construction Date: 01/01/1876 Fire Date: 02/03/1916 Structure status: Still standing building Cause of Fire: A gentleman in the Reading Room in the north west part of the building noticed something, probably a cigar, smouldering in a wastebasket. It happened all the time. As he left the room, he called it to the attention of a clerk but it was already too late. The embers had come to life and spread with amazing speed. Documentation of the fire: [Web Link] Other: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Give a narrative of your experience. Did you learn anything after reading about the fire in the waymark? Photos are always welcome too. Please no virtual visits.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   12/29/2023 Ariberna visited it 09/03/2019 Lynx Humble visited it 07/26/2019 navy30000 visited it 07/14/2019 The Burrow visited it 08/27/2018 Lucky_Al visited it 07/18/2017 happyheartcacher visited it 07/03/2017 Bon Echo visited it 10/02/2016 MrARC visited it 05/25/2016 delisles visited it 08/08/2015 Iris & Harry visited it 06/24/2015 lyturmel visited it 03/01/2015 mTn_biKer65 visited it 09/13/2014 GéoSpyder visited it 08/19/2014 Casper&Aero visited it 04/21/2014 Loonwatcher visited it 03/30/2014 Trail Blaisers visited it 02/20/2014 machard visited it 01/22/2014 W1zz visited it 01/22/2014 PatrickValerie visited it 10/29/2013 lindeye visited it 08/11/2013 GPComd visited it 08/09/2013 dieSulzer visited it 07/01/2013 Esiban visited it 05/16/2013 Keldar5 visited it 04/30/2013 Papou visited it

View all visits/logs