Fire in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts: deceased just a stone’s throw from the door

A man and his disabled daughter have tragically died in a fire after a series of unfortunate mistakes that “could have been avoided” as they prepared to evacuate the burning home.

The tragedy occurred last Thursday, while Jacques Collin and his severely disabled daughter Emmanuelle were spending a completely ordinary evening in their home in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts.

True to form, the 67-year-old man allegedly lit his fireplace in the basement, leaving the appliance door open to supply it with air, according to family members.

But he apparently forgot it while going about other activities, only realizing his mistake when the smoke spread through the house.

He then quickly went to find his 34-year-old daughter, connected to a feeding machine, to get her out of her bed and place her in her wheelchair.

“But instead of evacuating with her immediately, he went out in front to get his vehicle and facilitate his evacuation with an access rail at the back of the house,” says Benjamin Michaud, Mr.’s nephew. Colin.

Fatal errors

By opening the back door, a draft was created and a large cloud of smoke spread into the house. After returning home without covering his face, the father lost consciousness when he arrived in front of his daughter.

“This accident comes from a series of errors which could have been avoided,” laments Mr. Collin’s nephew.

The firefighters arrived more than an hour later, according to Mr. Michaud. The mother of the family, who was out that evening, learned the sad news on the way home.

The accidental thesis was confirmed by the Sûreté du Québec.

“In the midst of emotion, we are not always able to think about what to do. This is why it is important to review what to do in an emergency once a year. It could have saved their lives,” said Benjamin Michaud.

“Two new angels”

The news had the effect of a bomb for the relatives of the two victims, known to be kind-hearted people.

While Mr. Collin died as he lived, that is to say while trying to protect his daughter, a sad mistake finally got the better of her, who had nevertheless defied all the predictions linked to her illness.

“I always imagined that you would have a gentle departure and that we would be with you to tell you how much we love you […] It’s inexplicable the way you left, it hurts my soul,” wrote Lily St-Laurent, Emmanuelle’s aunt.

A GoFundMe fundraising campaign was launched by relatives of the family to financially support the mother of the family and her other daughter.

“We have two new angels who will watch over us,” said David Robinson, Mr. Collin’s nephew, in a touching testimony on social networks.