Two fires broke out just over 24 hours apart last weekend. A first house was the target of flames during the evening of Friday, November 15. A fire also broke out the following evening in an apartment building. Three people were treated by the Red Cross, but the events caused no injuries.
Firefighters from the City of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Fire Safety Department were alerted to the first fire on November 15, at 9:27 p.m. When they went to the scene, a single-family house on Chemin des Patriotes Est in Iberville, the flames had already spread throughout the attic.
In all, 37 firefighters mobilized to bring the fire under control, including teams from the municipalities of Mont-Saint-Grégoire and Richelieu who came as reinforcements.
Victims
The two people who were in the house were evacuated and taken care of by the Red Cross. They were not injured.
According to firefighters, the occupants of the house were sleeping when their smoke detector warned them of the danger, thus saving their lives. Remember that it is essential to check whether your smoke alarm is functional, and to replace the batteries at the recommended time.
As for the cause of the fire, it had still not been determined at the time of writing. The house is estimated to be a total loss.
Second fire
The next day, during the evening of Saturday, November 16, another fire broke out at 9:48 p.m. in the area, this time on Saint-Georges Street in the Saint-Jean sector. A total of 17 firefighters intervened quickly to control the flames which were spreading in an apartment in a building of 12 apartments.
At the time of the incident, 24 people were evacuated from the building without suffering any injuries. One person was unable to return to their home, namely the occupant of the apartment targeted by the flames.
According to firefighters, the fire started in the kitchen of the home, near the stove. Property damage is estimated at approximately $50,000.
The investigation to determine the nature of the fire was transferred to the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Police Department and is still ongoing.
