1900 Hull-Ottawa fire

The Hull-Ottawa fire of 1900 was a devastating fire in 1900 that destroyed much of Hull, Quebec and large portions of Ottawa, Ontario. On April 26 a defective chimney on a house in Hull started a fire, which quickly spread between the wooden houses due to windy conditions. Along the river were the large lumber companies, and huge amounts of stacked lumber that quickly ignited.

Two thirds of Hull were destroyed, including 40% of its residential buildings and most of its largest employers along the waterfront. The fire also spread across the wooden Chaudière Bridge and destroyed a large swath of western Ottawa from the Lebreton Flats south to Dow's Lake. About one fifth of Ottawa was destroyed [Report of the Ottawa and Hull Fire Relief Fund, 1900, Ottawa. The Rolla L. Crain Co., via [http://www.archivecdbooks.ca/Samples/CA0188_Samp.pdf] ] with almost everything in the band between Booth and the rail line leveled. Fortunately prevailing wind patterns and the higher elevation of central Ottawa prevented the fire from spreading east. The fire break created by the rail line also preserved the Hintonburg area.

Seven people were killed in the blaze, and fifteen thousand were made homeless. More were killed by disease in the densely packed tent cities where the people were forced to live afterwards.

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