A 10-year old child lost his life in one of the most violent fires Quebec City, Canada, firefighters faced in the last five years.
The last 24 hours already put the crews under a lot of strain: more than five times the daily average of calls were dispatched after the storm system that swept through the east of Canada and the U.S. reached the city, the winds tearing structures apart, breaking trees and damaging power lines. This also proved to be a major factor in the fire's rapid progress, as the pictures clearly demonstrate.
Initial 911 calls didn't reveal the full extent of the situation; even Chief 142, who arrived first on scene being stationed at nearby Station 3, only reported seeing smoke escaping from the building. However, the situation changed rapidly as moments later he requested a second then third alarm, having received the information that people were trapped inside and confirming that a fast-moving fire threatened the whole construction.
The blaze had spread so rapidly that two ladder trucks were positioned in order to put their master streams in operation over the building if necessary. Meanwhile, crews inside progressed slowly to the apartment where a child was last seen, but were forced to retreat as the intensity of the fire prevented them to advance further. The commanding officer, faced with the fact that his teams' efforts were hindered by the winds and combustible construction of the building, and that the flames gained terrain despite being watered down by numerous streams, thus ordered the operators of Ladder 401 and Quint 303 to open up the master stream. He also requested a fourth alarm for additional manpower and a Call 33, the last ordering firefighters from the next group to report to their firehouse.
Even with this strategy, it took many minutes before Engine 204's crew could attain the victim; the child was found lifeless in the apartment they were guided to. They transported him outside where they started CPR maneuvers, a very noble but unfortunately vain effort by the firefighters, visibly shaken by their sad discovery.
All units returned to an aggressive attack after having adjusted themselves to support Engine 204's rescue effort. With each burst of wind, the upper levels of the apartment building could be seen glowing orange, a reminder that the combat was far from over. However, there were fears that the structure was not sound anymore, especially since around 10 inches of water had accumulated on each floor and that there was a collapse risk. A Code Red was declared on the dispatch and tactical frequencies while operators returned to their trucks to activate their sirens and horns, the sound echoing through the narrow streets of the Saint-Sauveur borough.
By then, the difficulties changed as while surface fire diminished obviously, the flames were still progressing in parts of the structure not yet affected. It took hours before the event could be declared under control, leaving the building in ruins and the residents shocked at the power of the destructive element.
The victim is a ten-year old male child. He was leaving the building with his mother, who was transported to the hospital suffering from a nervous breakdown, when she lost track of him.
As the fire took a life, the police department will be responsible for the investigation. It is unknown if the smoke detector was working at the moment the fire ignited.
