Montreal firefighters have lost their investigators responsible for shedding light on the causes of major fires in the metropolis, according to their union. A situation that risks causing significant waiting times for the victims, while the City is reassuring.
The four positions of lieutenant-investigator at the Montreal Fire Safety Service (SIM) have been vacant for a few weeks, assured the Montreal Firefighters Association (APM), which represents them. A framework currently ensures continuity, but the latter would retire in the coming days, still according to the union.
” [En pratique], there are no more investigators in the service,” lamented Chris Ross, president of the Montreal Firefighters Association. Investigations are normally “a task carried out exclusively by lieutenant-investigators. And the four positions of lieutenant-investigators are vacant.
“We had a meeting with the employer [jeudi] who qualifies [la situation] of [rupture] on duty and told me they were running late,” added Ross.
Friday evening, the City of Montreal had a different version.
“The SIM does not show any delay in investigations to date,” assured spokesperson Kim Nantais, by email. “The offer of service to citizens during investigations aimed at determining the causes and circumstances of fires remains maintained despite the departure of certain employees. Three resources out of a team of six are working there,” she added, offering a different tally than the union.
Avoid further infernos
Lieutenant-investigators – who are recognizable by their orange helmets – are normally called upon to go into the rubble of major fires to try to determine the origin and record their observations in writing, as provided for by provincial law. . Ultimate objective: avoid other fires. The police inherit the investigations of fatal or arson fires.
Buildings affected by a major fire are always sealed by the firefighters who put out the blaze, in order to preserve the clues. Only the passage of a SIM investigator allows victims to access their homes to try, for example, to save personal effects.
The SIM’s Fire Cause and Circumstances Research Section also has another firefighter, a captain, but he performs administrative duties, Ross said.
“I find it very worrying because we are losing very important expertise and knowledge,” argued Abdelhaq Sari, of the official opposition at City Hall. “This is unacceptable and very worrying. This is poor proactive governance of the service. »
Lower wages
According to Chris Ross, the SIM has great difficulty recruiting firefighters to fill these specialized positions, which require additional training.
We don’t have people applying, those who have passed the competition don’t accept the promotion because they find that the working conditions are not attractive enough.
Montreal Firefighters Association President Chris Ross
Work in the barracks, on continuous schedules, gives the right to the payment of bonuses and a reduction in the number of working days, he continued. Not that of the investigators. “When a lieutenant in operations can earn $150,000 a year, it’s hard to convince him to go to investigations and earn $100,000 a year. Person [n’a envie de] make $50,000 less a year,” said Ross.
The Fire Causes and Circumstances Research Section had already been considerably reduced five years ago, as part of budgetary restrictions.
“In 2018, we have already gone from a service open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to a service open Monday to Thursday, reported Chris Ross. And there, there is no longer anyone from Monday to Thursday apart from the executive. »