(Montreal) Twenty-seven firefighters and one citizen were decorated on Sunday for “the exceptional courage and altruism they have shown in rescuing people in danger,” announced the Department of Public Security.
Posted at 4:20 p.m.
The awards ceremony, which took place at the Séminaire de Québec, marked National Firefighters Appreciation Day.
“It is an honor to officially pay tribute to you for your heroic acts, which marked many citizens who lived through these events where you showed dedication, leadership, surpassing yourself and of remarkable courage. You have my admiration and that of Quebec as a whole, ”said the associate deputy minister of civil security and fire safety of the Minister of Public Security, Katia Petit, in a press release.
For example, three Salaberry-de-Valleyfield firefighters, temporary captain Mario Thifault, David Gauthier-Garand and Sylvain Legros, were awarded the Medal for Meritorious Deed after responding to an explosion at a manufacturing plant. explosives and saving the life of a worker trapped at the bottom of a 20-foot hole. With only a 14-foot ladder, one of the firefighters had to hang upside down on the top rung to reach the worker with his hands.
Captain of Operations Samuel St-Onge, in Shawinigan, received the same distinction for diving into a burning building without his first aid lance, which was too short to reach the resident trapped in his room. of bath. Using his thermal imaging camera and protective gear, he managed to save the victim.
Étienne Marchand, of Saint-Eustache, received the Cross of Courage for an act of heroism accomplished at the risk of his life. He twice braved the opaque smoke and suffocating heat of a building about to catch fire on his own in order to save colleagues trapped inside, finally escaping from the dwelling just as widespread fire broke out.
But not all stories are happy and three firefighters have been awarded the Sacrifice Medal posthumously.
Pierre Lacroix, from the Montreal service, intervened with three of his colleagues to rescue the passengers of a pleasure boat which was drifting towards the rapids of the Lachine Canal, a place known to be perilous. The experienced firefighter lost his life after his boat capsized. His three colleagues, Lieutenant François Rabouin, Robin Brunet-Paiement and Michael Maillé were found safe and sound and received the Cross of Courage. The two civilians were saved.
Martin Tremblay fought a violent fire in the garage of a residence in Boischatel, while strong winds helped the fire to spread quickly. After being buried under the rubble, he lost his life in hospital.
Lieutenant Dominic Jean died in Saint-Edmond-les-Plaines, Lac-Saint-Jean, while fighting a blaze that was born on a dairy farm with 70 cows. The building, weakened by the flames, suddenly collapsed on the lieutenant, who was pronounced dead in hospital.
These “3 sacrifice medals tragically remind us of the exceptional altruism shown by our firefighters to protect us,” said Ms.me Little. These three firefighters who died in the line of duty will never be forgotten. »
The other recipients of the Medal for Meritorious Deeds are Captain Jason Neil of Brownsburg-Chatham, Captain of Operations Marco Soucy and Lieutenant Dominic Gévry of Granby, Chief of Operations Maxime Fortin, Lieutenant Luc Bouchard and Pierre Lavoie of Alma , substitute lieutenant Mathieu Brisebois, Dominic Malette, Marc-André Roy, Marc Montpetit and temporary firefighter Xavier Lambert from Longueuil, lieutenant Luc Gironne, Sébastien Ménard, Karl Hanbury, Jean-Christophe Pichon and eligible firefighter Matthew Lachaine from Val- Golden.
Citizen Steve Turcotte, of Trois-Pistoles, for his part received a Citation of Recognition, having reacted promptly when he saw the start of a fire in his neighbours.