Debris fell on the firefighter who lost his life during an intervention in Lac-Saint-Jean, Thursday evening, according to the Union of firefighters and firefighters of Quebec (SPQ).
Posted at 9:10 p.m.
While he was inside, a wall collapsed, said Friday the union adviser and vice-president at the SPQ, Sylvain Côté.
An inquest is planned to clarify the circumstances surrounding the death of the part-time firefighter.
Dominic Jean, 51, was among the firefighters called to fight a fire at a dairy farm housing 70 cows in Saint-Edmond-les-Plaines.
“It remains to be determined with the investigation, but what we know, there was debris that fell on him. At that time, his colleague came out and he realized that Dominic was not with him, ”explained Mr. Côté, to The Canadian Press.
A search through the rubble got under way and quickly found him while the fire was still raging.
Once out of the rubble, the firefighter, father of two, was taken to hospital where he was confirmed dead.
The investigation will be conducted jointly by the Sûreté du Québec and the CNESST.
“A very good living”
Dominic Jean had practiced the profession for 18 years, indicated Mr. Côté.
He was a firefighter with the GÉANT Intermunicipal Fire Safety Board, whose acronym refers to the first letter of each of the five municipalities served; Girardville, Saint-Edmond-les-Plaines, Albanel, Normandin and Saint-Thomas.
“He was a very good firefighter, a very good living,” testified Sylvain Côté, who knew Mr. Jean during union activities.
“For everyone there, it’s a shock wave. It’s a small environment, everyone knows each other, which is all the more difficult for family and colleagues. »
Mr. Côté also described Dominic Jean as a dedicated and funny firefighter.
This is the third firefighter who died in service in recent months in Quebec, noted the SPQ.
In October, a Montreal firefighter lost his life in the waters of the St. Lawrence River during an intervention to help a couple in a boat in distress.
A few months later, a firefighter from the Quebec region died following a fire in Boischatel.