The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) rules out the theory of a criminal act for the fire at the Fruits de mer de l’Est du Québec factory in Matane, eight months after the events.
On the evening of March 29, the seafood processing plant was ravaged by flames, only ten days after closing its doors for good.
Following the events, responsibility for the investigation was given to the Major Crimes Division of the SQ.
Today, the police force indicates that investigators were unable to determine the causes of the fire. For them, the case is now closed.
No surprise
The chairman of the board of directors of the Matanese factory, Jean-Pierre Chamberland, is not surprised. He points out that the factory’s assurances came to the same conclusion quite a while ago.
It was clear to the insurer that there was no criminal act involved.
If the investigation file is closed, that of the insurance companies is not yet. This is not a small matter, it is a big deal. It’s not resolved yet, but it’s being resolved.
assures Mr. Chamberland.
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The chairman of the board of directors of the Matanese Les Fruits de mer de l’Est du Québec factory, Jean-Pierre Chamberland (Archive photo)
Photo: - / Jean-François Deschênes
What future for the factory?
Still three people work for the administrative side of the factory, according to the president of the C. A.
He points out that shrimp, crab and lobster processing permits are still valid.
Mr. Chamberland also adds that the Danish multinational Royal Greenland, owner of the building and the permits, is still studying options regarding the future of the Matanese factory.
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The demolition and cleaning of the site were carried out last June. (Archive photo)
Photo: - / Jean-François Deschênes
This is a question that has still not been officially determined or decided by the shareholder.
he insists.
Will we rebuild? Will we do something different? Will we not rebuild? It’s still to be decided.
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Royal Greenland is the owner of the Fruits de mer de l’Est factory in Matane. (Archive photo)
Photo: - / Pierre Chapdelaine de Montvalon
Mr Chamberland hopes to have a decision early next year, once the insurance matter is resolved.
The fire was detected on the west side of the factory when the alarm was raised. On the evening of the fire, residents of Matane-sur-Mer had to be evacuated for a few hours due to the presence of a liquid ammonia tank in the factory.
The Fruits de mer de l’Est plant has been processing shrimp since 1967, in Matane.
