Last Updated: December 26, 2025
On April 26, 1900, a single spark from a chimney in Hull ignited a haystack and set off one of the most catastrophic urban fires in Canadian history.
The Great Fire of 1900 remains one of Ottawa’s most defining moments, a day that changed the capital forever. Within hours, flames swept through Hull and crossed the Ottawa River, consuming everything in their path. By the time the inferno was finally contained, over 15,000 people were homeless, seven lives were lost, and the heart of both cities lay in smouldering ruins. Yet from these ashes, Ottawa would emerge transformed, building a modern, fire-resistant city that would serve as a model for urban planning across Canada.
Key Highlights
TL;DR: On April 26, 1900, a fire that started in Hull, Quebec spread across the Ottawa River, destroying 3,200 buildings, killing 7 people, and leaving 15,000 homeless. The disaster led to new building codes requiring brick and stone construction, transforming Ottawa into a modern capital.
| Quick Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | April 26, 1900 |
| Origin | Hull, Quebec (chimney spark) |
| Deaths | 7 people |
| Homeless | 15,000 residents |
| Buildings Destroyed | 3,200 structures |
| Area Burned | 2,050 acres |
| Damage | $15 million (~$540 million today) |
The Day That Changed Ottawa Forever
The morning of April 26, 1900, began like any other spring day in the Ottawa Valley. The weather was unseasonably warm and dry, with strong southwesterly winds gusting across the region. By mid-morning, a fire had started on the Hull side of the Ottawa River, igniting when sparks from a chimney landed on a nearby haystack.
At first, no one imagined the blaze would become catastrophic. Local fire brigades responded quickly, but the conditions were against them. The winter had been exceptionally dry, leaving wooden structures parched and vulnerable. The powerful winds fanned the flames with terrifying speed, and what began as a small fire soon became an unstoppable inferno.
By noon, the fire had consumed much of Hull’s downtown core. Flames leapt across the Ottawa River, carried by wind-blown embers, and began devouring the lumber mills that lined the Chaudiere Falls. These mills, the economic engine of Ottawa, became fuel for the fire’s relentless advance.
The blaze swept through LeBreton Flats, the working-class neighbourhood home to thousands of mill workers and their families. Residents fled with whatever possessions they could carry, many escaping with only the clothes on their backs. The fire moved so quickly that some families barely had time to evacuate before their homes were engulfed.
The Lumber Industry: Fuel for the Flames
In 1900, Ottawa was known as the lumber capital of the world. The city’s economy revolved around the massive mills that processed timber floated down the Ottawa River from the logging camps upstream. The Chaudiere Falls area was a forest of smokestacks, with mills operated by lumber barons like J.R. Booth and E.B. Eddy.
These mills, essential to Ottawa’s prosperity, also made the city dangerously vulnerable to fire. Huge stockpiles of lumber, sawdust, and wood shavings surrounded the facilities. When the flames reached the mill district, the accumulated fuel created a firestorm of unprecedented intensity.
The J.R. Booth complex, the largest lumber operation in the world at the time, was nearly destroyed. E.B. Eddy’s mills in Hull suffered catastrophic losses. The fire burned so intensely that iron machinery was melted and stone foundations cracked from the heat.
The destruction of the lumber mills marked a turning point for Ottawa’s economy. While some mills were rebuilt, the industry never fully recovered its downtown presence. The disaster accelerated a shift away from heavy industry in the city core, paving the way for Ottawa’s eventual transformation into a government and service-sector capital.
How Parliament Hill Was Saved
As flames advanced toward Parliament Hill, fear gripped the city that Canada’s seat of government would be lost. The Gothic Revival buildings, completed just over three decades earlier, stood in the path of destruction. Their loss would have been a national tragedy.
Several factors combined to save Parliament Hill. Firefighters made a heroic stand, focusing their limited resources on protecting the government buildings. The grounds themselves provided a natural firebreak, with the open lawns and stone construction offering some protection.
Crucially, the wind direction shifted as the fire approached. This change in conditions slowed the fire’s advance and gave firefighters the chance they needed to contain the threat. By evening, it was clear that Parliament Hill would survive, though the surrounding neighbourhoods lay in ruins.
The salvation of Parliament Hill became a symbol of hope for the devastated city. The buildings that represented Canadian democracy had endured, and they would witness Ottawa’s remarkable recovery in the years to come.
The Human Cost and Immediate Aftermath
The statistics of the Great Fire are staggering, but behind the numbers were thousands of personal tragedies. Seven people lost their lives, many of them workers caught in the lumber mills when the fire struck. Over 15,000 residents were suddenly homeless, with nothing but the possessions they had managed to grab during their hasty evacuations.
The disaster prompted an outpouring of support from across Canada and beyond. Relief efforts were organized within hours. Churches, schools, and public buildings were opened as emergency shelters. Food, clothing, and money poured in from communities throughout the country.
The federal government provided emergency funds for relief and reconstruction. Military tents were erected to house the homeless. Within days, a massive relief operation was underway, coordinating food distribution, temporary shelter, and medical care for the thousands of displaced residents.
Rebuilding a Modern City
The Great Fire presented Ottawa with an opportunity to rebuild better than before. City officials and planners recognized that the wooden construction that had characterized much of the city had to change. New building codes were enacted requiring brick and stone construction in the downtown core.
Fire prevention became a priority. The city invested in a modern fire department with better equipment and training. New water mains and fire hydrants were installed throughout the rebuilt areas. Streets were widened to serve as firebreaks and to improve access for emergency vehicles.
The reconstruction of LeBreton Flats and the surrounding areas reflected these new standards. The hastily built wooden homes of mill workers were replaced by more substantial brick structures. While this meant higher construction costs, it also meant a safer, more durable city.
The fire also accelerated urban planning efforts in Ottawa. The destruction of so much of the city’s industrial core created an opportunity to reimagine the capital’s layout. This would eventually lead to broader beautification efforts and the creation of the National Capital Commission, which would transform Ottawa into the green, carefully planned capital we know today.
Visiting the History Today
Today, visitors to Ottawa can explore the sites where the Great Fire left its mark, though the physical evidence of the disaster has largely been erased by over a century of development.
LeBreton Flats has been transformed from a working-class neighbourhood into a park and development area. The Canadian War Museum now stands near where mill workers’ homes once lined crowded streets. Interpretive plaques in the area tell the story of the fire and the community that was lost.
The Chaudiere Falls area, once the heart of Ottawa’s lumber industry, has been redeveloped into a mixed-use district. The falls themselves remain a powerful natural feature, though the mills that once surrounded them are long gone.
Walking through the ByWard Market and surrounding areas, visitors can appreciate the brick and stone buildings that replaced the wooden structures destroyed in the fire. These buildings, many dating from the early 1900s, are a direct legacy of the building code reforms that followed the disaster.
FAQ
Q: When did the Great Fire of 1900 occur?
The Great Fire began on April 26, 1900, starting around 10 AM when sparks from a chimney in Hull ignited a haystack. Strong winds and dry conditions caused the fire to spread rapidly across the Ottawa River into the Canadian capital.
Q: How much of Ottawa was destroyed in the Great Fire?
The fire destroyed approximately 3,200 buildings across 2,050 acres. The damage was estimated at $15 million in 1900 dollars, equivalent to roughly $540 million today. Areas most affected included LeBreton Flats and the Chaudiere lumber mill district.
Q: Was Parliament Hill damaged in the Great Fire of 1900?
No, Parliament Hill was saved through a combination of firefighting efforts, its stone construction, open grounds that served as firebreaks, and a fortunate shift in wind direction that slowed the fire’s advance toward the government buildings.
Q: How did the Great Fire change Ottawa?
The fire led to significant changes in building codes, requiring brick and stone construction in the downtown core. It modernized the fire department, improved water infrastructure, and accelerated urban planning efforts that would eventually transform Ottawa into a carefully designed capital city.
Final Thoughts
The Great Fire of 1900 was Ottawa’s darkest hour, yet it became the catalyst for the city’s transformation into a modern capital. From the ashes of destruction, Ottawa built stronger, safer, and smarter. The tragedy that left 15,000 homeless ultimately created a city better prepared for the future.
Today, as you walk through Ottawa’s downtown streets, you are walking through history. The brick buildings, the wide avenues, the planned green spaces all trace their origins to that terrible April day. The Great Fire did not defeat Ottawa. It forged a city that would rise to become one of the world’s most beautiful capitals.
Source: Library and Archives Canada, City of Ottawa Archives, Canadian Encyclopedia
