Snowdon Theatre heavily damaged by afternoon fire

The three-alarm fire at Snowdon Theatre on Décarie Boulevard has been put out.

The flames started on the second floor of 5225 Decarie Blvd. in the Snowdon neighbourhood.

Firefighters received a call at about 4:30 p.m. that black smoke was coming from the building.

Ninety firefighters arrived at the scene to put it out.

"Luckily the building was empty so we took a defensive strategy," said Christian Legault, spokesperson for the Montreal fire department. 

The old theatre is attached to a residential property on its right side.

Ten people were forced from their homes due to the fire. All of them are safe.

Legault said the roof suffered the most damage from the fire and from water damage.