The end of the lobster fishing season will have a bitter taste in Grande-Entrée.
Early on Sunday morning, a fire destroyed five boats and damaged a sixth, causing dismay in the archipelago’s largest port.
(Facebook screenshot Laureate Déraspe)
Only one boat out of five did not sink, namely the Shell N’ Scales (photo: CFIM)
The Leane Alexis II was removed from the water and placed in the port’s boat park (photo: CFIM)
Less than 24 hours after fighting the blaze that had also attacked a portion of the quay, the firefighters had to return to the Pointe because the fire had not said its last word.
On Monday morning, at the port, the flashing lights were cutting through the colours of dawn.
While lobster boats are usually the first to arrive at the fishing harbour, the firefighters got there by a good hour.
A dozen firefighters returned to the Grande-Entrée quay on Monday morning after bringing Sunday’s fire under control (photo: CFIM)
Around 2 a.m., the Fire Department was alerted by a Sûreté du Québec patrol car to the presence of smoke on the section of the platform that had been engulfed in flames the day before.
Emergency services manager Simon Mary said residual heat continued to burn through the wood inside the building, leaving firefighters unable to access it.
The firefighters were occasionally watering the beams and planks in the gaps in the quay. In the afternoon, they drilled holes in the wood to gain better access to the structure and also used their inflatable boat to get a closer look (photo: CFIM)
They were still at work when the last of the boats put to sea for the final week of the season, and were still there when the landings were over.
During the day, the Coast Guard and the Maritime Incident Risk Management Centre of Expertise also surveyed the scene, which was demarcated by booms, which are floating barriers that retain debris and hydrocarbons from the burned vessels.
Booms (floating barriers resembling yellow sausages) surround the burning quay (photo: CFIM)
Initial expert reports indicate that between 18 and 220 litres of oil were released into the port, but a large volume was said to have gone up in flames with the fishing boats.
Member of Parliament Diane Lebouthillier visited the site in the afternoon to show her support for the fishermen.
Once the inspection is completed, Fisheries and Oceans Canada will take charge of the work to restore the wharf, she assures.
Alongside the minister, Mayor Antonin Valiquette thanked all those who worked hand in hand over the long weekend.
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Diane Lebouthillier, accompanied by Mayor Antonin Valiquette and members of the Coast Guard, who were leading operations on the site (photo: CFIM)
He reports that the firefighters’ interventions have put a lot of pressure on the village’s drinking water supply and asks residents and port users to limit their consumption until further notice.
For his part, the president of the Grande-Entrée port association, Rémi Cyr, said he was very saddened by the situation.
He points out that the incident brings to the fore the issue of hiring a night watchman, adding that the costs of hiring one are high.
At the time of publication of this report, the origin of the fire had not been established.
As of Monday, the theory of an accidental fire was favored.
