Violent fire in Longueuil: three members of a family lost their lives

LONGUEUIL - Three people from the same family died Saturday in a major fire in Longueuil, leaving an 11-year-old child orphaned.

The firefighters had found these three unconscious people on the top floor of 240-246 rue Toulouse, near rue Plessis. They were taken to hospital in a serious condition and declared dead soon after arrival.

This is a couple in their forties and a woman in her sixties from the same family

According to the emergency services, 11 other people were transported to a hospital center for burns or fractures because of jumps from balconies to escape the flames.

 

According to the emergency services, 11 other people were transported to a hospital center for burns or fractures because of jumps from balconies to escape the flames.

It was around 1 am, on the night of Friday to Saturday, that the firefighters were called to intervene in a building of 16 apartments.

Upon arrival, flames and smoke came from the first floor of the building. The fire quickly spread to the upper floors. The general alert was then given.

The cold and strong winds made the fire fight difficult for the 80 firefighters who were dispatched on site and the fire was not controlled until daybreak.

"Human manipulation"

A "human manipulation" would be the cause of the fire, said the police, but they do not have any element that would suggest that the complete fire of the building was the goal.

The investigators spent the day Saturday on the spot to meet witnesses and to analyze the scene.

The building was completely ravaged by the flames and what was left of it could collapse under the weight of the ice, police said. A shovel was requested on site.