Fire still burning at Montreal heritage building that once housed ...

MONTREAL — A major fire at a Montreal heritage building that broke out Thursday evening was still not out as of early today.

The fire broke out just before 5 p.m. at the Monastère du Bon-Pasteur, a 19th century former monastery, and quickly became a five-alarm blaze requiring the intervention of 150 firefighters.

The building located in the heart of downtown Montreal was built in 1846 and retained its religious vocation until the 1960s.

It was formally recognized as a heritage site in 1979 and now serves as a multiservice centre that includes a residence for seniors, a housing cooperative, a daycare centre and condominiums.