Montrealers who venture out on the river by boat, paddle board or kayak should be informed that the Lachine Rapids include a no-navigation zone, where the Fire Department will not come to their aid if they have need help, asks the opposition at City Hall.
Posted at 5:23 p.m.
Updated at 5:29 p.m.
“The Lachine Rapids are highly coveted by water sports enthusiasts. However, if an accident occurs, it can be very difficult to be rescued because of this exclusion zone. Currently, people who venture into this sector do so at their own risk and peril, without knowing it, since there is no signage”, deplores municipal councilor Abdelhaq Sari, spokesperson for the official opposition in matters of public safety.
This request follows the filing on Thursday of a report by the Commission for Standards, Equity, Health and Safety at Work (CNESST) on the death of firefighter Pierre Lacroix, during an operation rescue boaters in the Lachine rapids.
The report highlights the lack of training of firefighters for nautical rescue operations and raises questions about the boats used by the Montreal Fire Safety Service (SIM), which have since been taken out of service.
MAP PROVIDED BY THE MONTREAL FIRE DEPARTMENT
Zone where firefighters must not intervene to carry out nautical rescues, since navigation in this sector can be dangerous for their safety
The CNESST also reveals that, since 2010, firefighters must not intervene for rescues in an unmarked area of the Lachine rapids. This area, located around Île aux Hérons, Île aux Chèvres and Île au Diable, is about 14 kilometers long.
During the accident that claimed the life of Pierre Lacroix, the fireboat was inside the prohibited navigation zone.
“The boat ended up in an area where there are class IV and V rapids. [bateau des pompiers]because of its classification, must not intervene in this sector, because the navigability limits have been exceeded, which exposes the crew to the danger of the boat overturning”, indicate the CNESST investigators.
Lack of warnings
However, underlines the opposition, nothing indicates to boaters the zone in which they must not venture, which represents a real danger for their safety.
“The Mayor [Valérie Plante] encourages Montrealers to do nautical activities, but when we send people somewhere, we have to make sure that their safety is not at stake,” says Abdelhaq Sari.
The opposition is also calling for an external independent investigation into the management and work climate within the SIM, following the broadcast of a report Thursday on Radio-Canada on the death of Pierre Lacroix. The report featured testimonials from firefighters and nautical instructors indicating that their concerns had not been heard for several years about the problems with the boats and the lack of training.
“The allegations raised in the investigative media report are concerning. We are confident that the CNESST investigation and our internal investigation, combined with the coroner’s public inquiry, will help us shed light on this case,” responded the public security official in a written statement. to the executive committee of the City of Montreal, Alain Vaillancourt.
Mr. Vaillancourt, however, did not indicate whether he intended to request better signage regarding the exclusion zone in the Lachine Rapids.