On a freezing February night in the middle of World War I, a sudden fire swept through the Canadian Parliament Buildings. By the next morning, seven people were dead and the Centre Block was just a pile of icy rubble. Rumours spread just as quickly that the fire was the result of enemy sabotage, but an investigation concluded that the Parliament Buildings fire was accidental, probably caused by careless smoking.
These historic pictures give an idea of the size of the Canadian Parliament Buildings fire, the conditions faced by the firefighters and militia who battled it, and the reconstruction work required.
- Original Centre Block of the Parliament BuildingsOriginal Centre Block Parliament Buildings
- Parliament Buildings the Night of the Fire in 1916Parliament Buildings the Night of the Fire 1916
- Centre Block Just Before the Victoria Tower CollapsesCentre Block Just Before the Victoria Tower Collapses
- Daylight Dawns After the Parliament Buildings FireDaylight Dawns After the Parliament Buildings Fire
- Still Fighting the Parliament Buildings Fire in the MorningStill Fighting the Parliament Buildings Fire in the Morning
- House of Commons Speaker's Chair After the FireHouse of Commons Speaker's Chair After the Fire
- Firefighters at Work on SenateFirefighters at Work on Senate
- Firemen and Icy Spray on the Parliament Buildings FireIcy Spray on the Parliament Buildings Fire
- Militia Help at the Parliament Buildings FireMilitia Help at the Parliament Buildings Fire
- Centre Block Burnt OutCentre Block Burnt Out
- Stark View of the Morning After the FireStark View of the Morning After the Fire
- Library of Parliament After the FireLibrary of Parliament After the Fire
- Graphic Index
- Text Index
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