If you live in New Brunswick, you likely know the historical significance of the Acadian Peninsula. Early Monday morning, a devastating fire destroyed the Saint Simon Church, a cornerstone of that history and the largest wooden church in the province. Police now consider the blaze suspicious.

A Suspicious Start

Firefighters received a call around 3:30 a.m. after a fire alarm went off in the Saint Simon community. Motion detectors picked up movement inside the church ten minutes earlier.

“Sometimes we have false alarms, but I already had a bad feeling,” Caraquet Fire Department Chief Luc Dugas told Radio Canada. “I told myself we never had problems with this alarm.”

When crews arrived, flames had already engulfed the sacristy. Dugas noted the fire spread quickly into the roofing, making it impossible to extinguish.

“At this time, we believe someone would have set the fire,” Dugas said.

The RCMP and the Office of the Fire Marshal are actively investigating the scene. RCMP Sergeant Sylvain Bergeron confirmed authorities are treating the fire as suspicious.

A Devastating Loss for the Community

Acadian architect Nazaire Dugas built the Saint Simon Church between 1910 and 1920. The building served as a central gathering place for generations.

Resident Monique Albert Leger woke up to the sound of sirens. She married in the church four years ago and baptized her child there.

“The flames had reached the steeple and there was nothing left to do,” Leger said. “It hits close to home. It is our heart, it is our lungs, it is the center of our village. We just lost a big piece.”

Caraquet Mayor Bernard Theriault called the destruction a tragedy. He noted the community population dropped from 900 to 600 residents over the years, yet locals always raised enough money to maintain the historic building.

“The church was the last element that belongs to the community, that was built for and by the community,” Theriault said.

Fighting the Flames

Fire departments from Caraquet, Bertrand, and Shippagan battled the blaze well into Monday morning. The intense heat damaged four neighboring homes, but no one suffered injuries.

Shippagan Fire Chief Yannick Chiasson explained the difficulty of fighting such a massive structure fire.

“It emits a lot of heat,” Chiasson said. “There is the height of the walls. There is not much you can do except protect the structures next to it.”

Looking Ahead

The Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst, Michel Proulx, confirmed the church carried insurance. However, he stated it is too early to discuss rebuilding.

“First, what is important, is to make sure that everyone is OK, that the community can continue to gather,” Proulx said.

Mayor Theriault emphasized the need for a new community space and promised to work closely with residents to find a path forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was the Saint Simon Church located?

The church was located in the Saint Simon community on the Acadian Peninsula in New Brunswick.

Was anyone injured in the fire?

No one was hurt in the fire. The intense heat damaged four nearby homes, but all residents remained safe.

What caused the fire?

If you are wondering how the fire started, the RCMP and the Office of the Fire Marshal are currently investigating it as suspicious. Motion detectors sensed movement inside the building shortly before the fire alarm sounded.

Will the church be rebuilt?

The building was insured, but church officials say it is too early to make decisions about reconstruction. Local leaders plan to work with the community to determine the next steps.