Photos By Pascal Gaumond
Story By Luc Lapointe

The Châteauguay Fire Department respond to a reported fire in a church on the night of march 19 to march 20, 2002 around 01h45 am.

Upon arrival, the rear of the old 75 year old wooden church was fully involved.

When first units arrived, an electric wire was down and was blocking firefighters from performing an interior attack, firefighters had to wait for Hydro-Quebec (electrical company) to make a safe entry.

A preventive retreat was order due to the amount of fire and lack of water pressure, this was an old neighborhood with 6 inch pipes.

Firefighters where forced to do an exterior attack. The church was built entirely of wood and tentest (cardboard), this style of construction contributed to rapid fire spread.

High winds was pushing ambers and was threatening nearby exposures.

A general alarm was transmited and mutual aid from St-Constant, Mercier and Kanawake was requested to the scene.

4 engines, 2 ladders and a rescue where on scene with more than 50 firefighters. 2 ladder pipes, 1 deck gun, 3 - 3 inch lines and numerous 1 3/4 inches lines where used. This was the fourth major blaze to occur this year.

One firefighter was slightly injured when a wall collapsed.

The fire was ruled suspicious. The next day a homeless man was caught trying to set a fire in an apartment building, he confessed to the church fire and he was convicted for arson.