A public inquiry has been launched to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that broke out in Old Montreal in October.
The fire, which occurred on October 9th, destroyed several historic buildings and caused extensive damage to the area. It took over 200 firefighters and 75 fire trucks to contain the blaze, which raged for over 12 hours.
The public inquiry, announced by Quebec’s Minister of Public Security Geneviève Guilbault, will be led by retired Superior Court Justice Pepita G. Capriolo. The inquiry will examine the circumstances surrounding the fire and determine if any measures could have been taken to prevent it.
According to Guilbault, the inquiry will also look into the response of emergency services and the effectiveness of the evacuation procedures. She stated that the goal of the inquiry is to “shed light on what happened and ensure that measures are put in place to prevent similar tragedies in the future.”
The fire, which started in a building on Saint-Paul Street, quickly spread to neighboring buildings due to strong winds. The affected area, known for its historic architecture and popular tourist attractions, has been left in ruins.
Mayor of Montreal Valérie Plante expressed her sadness over the destruction caused by the fire, stating that it was a “tragic loss for the city.” She also emphasized the importance of finding out the cause of the fire to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The public inquiry is expected to take several months to complete and will involve interviews with witnesses, experts, and officials involved in the response to the fire. The findings and recommendations of the inquiry will be made public.
In the meantime, the affected area remains closed off to the public as authorities continue to assess the damage and work towards rebuilding. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but the public inquiry aims to provide answers and ensure that necessary measures are taken to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
