Fires Creating Neighbourhoods: How Risk Transforms plans
Can fire contribute to creating a neighbourhood and play a key role in urban construction? This question flies in the face of the conventional perception of fires, which is one of catastrophe and destruction, leaving little more than ashes and debris in their wake. While the consequences of the natural disaster itself are dramatic, it can lead to major transformations and contribute to creating new urban centres. The risk of fire, however, is rarely considered in this light and the rationale behind these transformations has sparked little interest. By focusing on one example (the Quebec neighbourhood of Saint Sauveur), this article proposes a theoretical examination of the conceptualization of fire and the risk of fire as a force that contributes to the structure of urban space.