Yesterday evening, a fire raged on the 12th floor of a 13-story building of the OMHQ (the Office Municipale d’Habitation du Québec) at 1991 avenue Bardy.
Tenants had not evacuated their homes, the consequences could have been more serious
Several calls were made to the 9-1-1 center around 6:45 p.m. for a large column of black smoke visible from a distance coming from a dwelling on the penultimate floor. The fire department sounded 3 alarms and mobilized nearly sixty firefighters. During this intervention, in addition to attacking the fire from the inside using the building’s water pipes, the firefighters had to evacuate the building which unfortunately was not entirely evacuated. Tenants on the same floor where the fire took place remained inside their accommodation. This situation poses a problem for firefighters and puts the lives of tenants in danger.
Four people were transported to a hospital, three of them due to smoke inhalation (the 4th due to discomfort). Fortunately, their lives would not be in danger.
The tenants of around thirty homes were unable to return to their homes.
A civil security representative was on site to ensure that the victims were taken care of by representatives of the Red Cross and the CIUSSS, said SPCIQ spokesperson Alexandre Lajoie.
FIRE UNDER INVESTIGATION – Fire Commissioner investigators have reasonable and probable grounds to believe that there was voluntary human intervention. They requested the collaboration of the Quebec Police Department, added the spokesperson.
SPCIQ safety instructions
When the fire alarm system is triggered, you must evacuate, even if there is no sign of fire. In addition to allowing firefighters to quickly contain the fire and thus limit damage to the building, rapid evacuation is the best way to ensure your safety.
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