“Real risk” of fire: illegal fireworks launched very close to residential buildings in Montreal

Dozens of daredevils endangered the public by illegally detonating numerous fireworks near residential buildings along the Lachine Canal in Montreal on Thursday evening, denounces the Montreal Fire Safety Service (SIM).

“It could have fallen on a balcony, chairs, tables,” says Sylvain Jalbert, head of the fire section at SIM.

Thursday evening, dozens of men stormed Place des Bassins, a green space overlooking the Lachine Canal in the Griffintown district, where they lit smoke bombs and set off fireworks.

The scene was filmed from several different angles by witnesses and the spectacular images were shared on social media. On one of them, we can see that at least one child was around the offenders.

“There must have been 50 or 60 guys and they were throwing these fireworks into the air and singing songs. It was pretty crazy and ridiculous. It just takes one going in the wrong direction and it can kill someone,” a resident who preferred not to give his name told the Journal.

These pyrotechnic enthusiasts would have broken camp after just a few minutes.

These would be supporters of a soccer club in Algeria who would have carried out this coup to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the team, according to what the Algerian media “La Gazette du Fennec” reported. . The media reports similar celebrations on a bridge in London, United Kingdom.

Dangerous

In Montreal, regulations prohibit the use of any fireworks unless special authorization is issued by the SIM. This provides in particular for a perimeter of at least 30 meters between the pyrotechnics and the public and buildings.

Mr. Jalbert, who confirms that no authorization had been given for Thursday, said he was worried when he saw the images.

“The amount of fires we are seeing is worrying. It goes everywhere,” he emphasizes, insisting that this poses a “real risk” of fire.

Were any calls made to 911? For its part, the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) maintains that it has not received any information related to this event.

“I encourage people to call 911 when they see fireworks like that because it is not supervised and that is the danger,” says Sylvain Jalbert. They [les contrevenants] are also putting themselves in danger because they don’t have the expertise.”