Non-compliant installations aimed at filling propane tanks illegally are at the origin of the violent fire which forced the evacuation of an entire neighborhood and razed two residences in Val-des-Sources, in the Eastern Townships, last summer.
According to a report by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), André Vachon operated, until the explosion, a propane distribution business at his home on rue Letendre, as well as at another location on rue Roi. , without holding the required permits.
These facilities were supplied with propane by the Center de location Idéale and its subsidiary Idéale Énergie Gaz Propane. The Westbury company’s operating permit expired in April 2019. In addition, the RBQ is of the opinion that the company should have refused to supply Mr. André Vachon’s gas installation and notified the existence of a situation which presented a risk of accident.
Everything changed on July 29 when the filling of a carboy went wrong, causing a fire that seriously injured a woman. André Vachon’s home and garage were reduced to ashes, as was a neighboring house.
In addition to the illegality of the trade, the RBQ has identified at least twenty breaches of the rules for the storage and handling of propane, including the presence of expired cylinders and the storage of highly flammable gas next to appliances ignition device.
In the wake of the fire, witnesses had told TVA Nouvelles that many customers regularly went to Mr. Vachon’s to have their bottles filled with propagate. A truck also came regularly to deliver gas.
“Just two weeks ago I said to my boyfriend ‘Can you imagine if that just jumped the damage it would do.’ We are extremely lucky that no one died,” commented a neighbor who requested anonymity.
“Mr. André Vachon has acted in such a way that he no longer deserves the public’s trust,” the RBQ decided bluntly.
The latter, as well as the president of the Center de location Idéale Éric Pagé, were also summoned to a hearing of the RBQ to explain themselves on March 28 and 29.
– With the collaboration of Jasmin Dumas, TVA Nouvelles