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A late 19th-century newspaper, L’Opinion Publique published this page showing several images of the 1881 fire in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste district. This page features a portrait of Georges Laperrière with burns on his hands and feet. The fire first broke out in his house. It also shows police officer Flynn, who rescued two children from the blaze.
1845 - 1881

Québec City’s big fires

Québec City experienced major fires in the 19th century. The most memorable were undoubtedly those of 1845. On May 28 and June 28, flames destroyed the Saint-Roch, Saint-Jean and Saint-Louis districts. Other major fires also swept through in 1866, 1876 and 1881, ravaging whole sections of the city. Each time, hundreds, if not thousands, of people had to rebuild their homes and reorganize their daily lives. Fire departments began to develop in the late 19th century, reducing the frequency and scale of these fires. This album bears witness to the residents’ courage in these difficult times.

Incidents of the 1881 fire of Québec

L'Opinion publique A late 19th-century newspaper, L’Opinion Publique published this page showing several images of the 1881 fire in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste district. This page features a portrait of Georges Laperrière with burns on his hands and feet. The fire first broke out in his house. It also shows police officer Flynn, who rescued two children from the blaze.
Chronoscope What do you notice in the photo? (unilingual French for a limited time) Source: Ville de Québec Document in the public domain (free of copyright) - Image taken from the Opinion publique newspaper, June 20, 1881, p. 303. - Date: 1881