Lightning-induced fire destroys historic church in Saint-Ours, Que., shakes community

A powerful thunderstorm swept through Saint-Ours, Que., and surrounding areas Thursday, sparking a fire at the Église de l'Immaculée-Conception. Saint-Ours Mayor says it marks a painful loss for his residents.

'It's going to take time to heal,' says resident

Cassandra Yanez-Leyton · CBC News · Posted: Jul 18, 2025 7:25 AM EDT | Last Updated: July 19

Residents shocked after fire destroys historic church in Saint-Ours, Que.

20 days ago

2:12

Only the four stone walls of the 19th-century building were left standing after lightning sparked the fire. The paintings and Casavant organ were also destroyed.

Sainte-Ours, Que., firefighter Sylvain Forget said in his 32 years of experience, he's never fought a fire as significant as the one that engulfed the municipality's century-old church after it was struck by lighting Thursday.

Flames fed by strong winds completely engulfed the roof and spire of the Église de l'Immaculée-Conception, leaving its once proud bell on the ground, to be rained on by debris, says Forget.

"That was a strange feeling. Personally, my child has been baptized in that [church] so it's hard," he said.

The assistant director of the Sainte-Ours fire brigade said the fire broke out just before 6 p.m. Thursday as a powerful thunderstorm was rolling in. His team, supplemented by dozens of firefighters from 10 surrounding municipalities, was finally able to get the fire under control by 4 a.m.

"And we're still fighting," said Forget, adding that his team will continue to tackle lingering hotspots well into Friday evening.

The church was built between 1880 and 1882 and is listed in the Quebec Cultural Heritage Directory. On Thursday evening, the municipality said the convent, school and presbytery adjacent to the church were not affected by the fire.

"It's an extremely painful moment for our citizens," Saint-Ours Mayor Sylvain Dupuis said in a news statement Thursday. "The church of Saint-Ours represents an important part of our history, the hallmark of our community and our collective identity."

A church on fire. The spire is engulfed in flames. — It took firefighters from 11 municipalities 10 hours to get the flames under control. They'll continue to work on the site well into Friday evening, said the Saint-Ours fire brigade's assistant director. (Submitted by Renée-Anne Arsenault)

For Renée-Anne Arseneault, who lives across the street from the church, it feels like history has gone up in flames.

"It was a piece of art. I have no words," she said. "It's going to take time to heal."

Dupuis said the municipality will discuss the future of the church with its parish and the diocese. Due to declining attendance rates, the church had actually gone up for sale.

Pierre Tousignant was slated to complete the purchase in a few months.

"The objective was to keep it nice, keep it there. It's part of the history of Saint-Ours," he said.

The site is also home to a cemetery where about 80 people are buried. He says they are mainly relatives of local residents, including the municipality's founders.

He said he's set on preserving the land despite the damage caused by the fire.