An elementary school in Prévost, Quebec, destroyed in fire

PRÉVOST – When Mélanie Poitras found out her daughter’s school was engulfed in fire, she got behind the wheel of her car and rushed over right away to see it with her own eyes. 

“There were so many people, it was a little dangerous because some were trying to film while driving,” said the mother, who spent hours Friday night watching firefighters put out the flames. “There were four fire trucks spraying water non-stop.”

About 400 students at Val-des-Monts in the Laurentians are now without an elementary school, after flames consumed the building just before 8 p.m. According to the town’s mayor, no one was injured.

Poitras’ says her 11-year-old daughter is devastated. Her special needs class there is made up of just 10 students.

“She loves her school,” she said. “We’re all very close, it was like a little family.”

Laptops the students use and new instruments just purchased for their music class were all loss in the blaze, the mother said. 

She stayed watching the scene unfold until 11:30 p.m., but said she returned again around 4 a.m., after not being able to sleep. By then, the building was still in the process of being demolished piece by piece. Some embers still remained that had to be put out as well. 

According to the union representing the town’s fire department, about 80 firefighters from a number of surrounding municipalities came together to put out the flames.

Poitras said the school informed her that there won’t be a place for the kids to go on Monday, but what’s to come for the coming days, and months, is still uncertain, she says. The school board has also yet to make an announcement. 

Paul Germain, the mayor of the town, said it’s a loss that feels personal to many. 

“It was the first major school to be built in Prévost in 1960, so there’s many locals who went there,” he said. “Their children went there, and in some cases, their grandchildren did too.”

He says he’s committed to seeing the school rebuilt as quickly as possible. A fundraiser has also been launched to help support the families of the children, who he says desperately need new school supplies.

“Currently, the commitment we’ve made is that for every dollar donated, the city will match it by two, up to maximum of $50,000,” he said, adding that target was surpassed within hours of being announced.

In a post on social media, Sonia Bélanger, the Quebec minister responsible for the region, said a crisis team has since been created to determine what will happen next for the students and staff there.

Quebec’s new Education Minister Sonia LeBel said the students are also top of mind for her right now.

“I want to thank all the firefighter that fought to put out the flames,” she wrote in a post on social media, adding an action plan is underway to respond as soon as possible.

The local fire department could not immediately be reached to say what could have caused the fire. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2025.