Quebec firefighters were honored for rescuing a woman trapped in her burning home in Beauport on Christmas Day almost two years ago.
In total, around ten members of the Quebec Fire Protection Service (SPCIQ) received a citation of honor on Friday for saving lives during two operations carried out in recent years.
Firefighters David Arbor, Raphaël Caron and François Robert received this recognition for having saved the life of a woman in Beauport, on December 25, 2022.
Firefighters Raphaël Caron, François Robert and David Arbor received a citation of honor from the SPCIQ for saving the life of a woman trapped in her home on December 25, 2022.
Photo Vincent Desbiens Le Journal de Québec Vincent Desbiens
When they arrived there, the three men met the victim’s father in front of the residence. The latter informed them that his daughter was stuck on the second floor. The engineers therefore took their courage in both hands and entered the building.
“When we arrived on scene, there was a lot of smoke coming out of the front door,” recalls Lieutenant Robert. […] The lady’s father, who lived next door, was in contact with her on the phone and she suddenly stopped answering him. Neither one nor two, we settle down, we get ready then we go up to get her. »
The trio’s task was greatly facilitated by the information available to the father who was on the phone with his daughter. They knew where to go to rescue her.
David Arbour, François Robert and Raphaël Caron received their citation of honor from the director of the Quebec Fire Protection Service, Christian Paradis.
Photo Vincent Desbiens Le Journal de Québec
“When there’s a lot of smoke like that, it’s difficult to find your way when you have to do research. We were able to go exactly where we needed to and thanks to that, we were able to save a life,” explains David Arbor.
As luck would have it, the victim was the “friend of a friend” of the young firefighter. He was therefore able to exchange a few words with the one he saved from certain death. “She was very grateful,” he continues.
Two in one
For Raphaël Caron, Friday took on particular importance, since he was sworn in as a permanent SPCIQ firefighter in addition to receiving his citation of honor.
“It’s really special to experience all this today. It’s a beautiful day and it’s a moment that I will remember for a long time,” he confides.
Asked if he was tested by the Christmas 2022 rescue when he had just entered service, the new permanent sapper maintains that he was able to rely on the experience and calm of his colleagues and his lieutenant.
Photo Vincent Desbiens Le Journal de Québec Vincent Desbiens
The three members of the SPCIQ recall that they spend the vast majority of their lives training to perform this type of high-risk intervention. They therefore felt ready and equipped when the time came to play the hero.
A man saved in Limoilou
In addition, eight other firefighters were honored for having saved the life of a man who was trapped in his apartment during a huge blaze that occurred on June 12, 2021, in Limoilou.
The SPCIQ highlighted the act of bravery of eight other of its members, who rescued a man trapped in his apartment in June 2021, in Limoilou.
Photo Vincent Desbiens Le Journal de Québec
This SPCIQ unit had to quickly widen the frame of a window on the third floor so that the victim could be extricated from a burning building.
The eight firefighters had to considerably widen one of the windows on the third floor to allow a man trapped inside his apartment to escape safely.
Archive photo
The fire required a fourth alarm and more than 60 firefighters took part in the operation.
Archive photo
