The fire, which ravaged part of a warehouse on rue Gingras in Warwick, was accidental in nature. “Everything is moving towards an electrical cause, but we cannot go any further,” said Mathieu Grenier, director of the Fire Protection Service.
Last to leave the scene around 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, which means that the intervention lasted approximately 17 hours. All night long, firefighters continued their work.
“I called on the director of the Régie Incentraide François Arel who came to the scene with four firefighters to continue the extinction with me and the chief Guillaume Morin, while other firefighters were busy preparing the trucks for the barracks,” explained Mathieu Grenier.
In total, 45 firefighters, including those from Kingsey Falls and Victoriaville, were mobilized to fight the violent fire which broke out in the early evening.
No one was there at the time. The last workers, both those in the warehouse and the factory, left the premises around 5 p.m. There were no signs of fire then.
“Everything happened quickly. Calls received around 6:25 p.m. reported flames rising into the air above the factory,” said Director Grenier.
In the warehouse that Vivaco rented from the Repco company, we found hardware equipment, different materials such as plastics, foam insulation, wood and asphalt shingles, among others.
Machinery, including a mechanical excavator, was used to assist the firefighters.
“The work was efficient. It was a good collaboration, which allowed us to save the ends of the warehouse,” commented Mathieu Grenier.
The fire destroyed the central portion of the warehouse, approximately 200 feet long by 70 feet wide.
The imposing building in front of the warehouse was spared. The firefighters protected it and suffered no damage, except to the paint.
A security perimeter was established in the area, first by police officers from the Sûreté du Québec, then by SIUCQ agents who also saw to the rehabilitation of the firefighters.
The damage is significant. “Including all the contents, the losses could amount to a million dollars,” estimated the officer.
