Cynthia Abraham
Three Fires in Less Than a Day
Dec 16 – Laval firefighters had an extremely busy Saturday night shift, contending with three separate fires within the span of about 15 hours. Fortunately, in all three cases, everyone managed to evacuate their respective situations due to fully functioning smoke detectors.
The first fire took place in Fabreville on Francine St. just after 6 p.m. In the process of moving, the residents had stacked some boxes on the stove, and inadvertently turned the heat on. The ensuing blaze ravaged the kitchen cabinets and the basement filled with smoke.
Six fire trucks and 19 firefighters were dispatched. Firefighters extinguished the fire by 6:31 p.m. Damages were estimated at $30,000 for the building and $10,000 for the contents.
The second fire, also in Fabreville, was reported at 5:03 a.m. on 22nd Avenue. Six trucks and 21 firefighters were dispatched and arrived at the scene at 5:08 a.m. By 5:40 a.m. the origin of the fire had been discovered. Officials confirmed the fire was electrical in nature, and the specific cause was a faulty power outlet in a room that had been converted into a music studio.
Damages were estimated at $40,000 for the building and $50,000 for the contents.
The resident, along with his visiting father, were transported to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
The third fire of the weekend was sparked early Sunday morning on 83rd Avenue in Chomedey. Residents called 911 at 9:11 a.m. to report a fire in their garage.
Six fire trucks carrying fourteen firefighters arrived at 9:18 a.m. and the fire was successfully doused by 9:28 a.m.
The origin of the fire was traced to a short-circuit in an extension cord that had been used to hook up a washer and dryer in the garage. Damages were estimate at $12,000 for the building and$4000 for the contents.
Two-Car Crash Sends One to Hospital
Dec 14 – Icy roads and poor weather conditions caused a car collision in the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul industrial parkat the intersection of Maurice-Cullen and Ernest-Cormier. Firefighters were required to use the Jaws of Life to extricate a woman from her vehicle and she was transported to hospital with injuries to her neck and back.
The driver of the other vehicle was not injured.
Police Christmas Tree Lit in Blue
Dec 14 – Every year on December 14 at 12:10 p.m. the Laval Police’s Christmas Tree is lit up with blue lights to honour their colleagues who gave their lives in the line of duty. In Laval, there have been four such officers.
The first Laval police officer to lose their life on the job was 25-year-old Valérie Gignac. Constable Gignac was killed on December 14, 2005, during an intervention for a domestic disturbance between neighbours. Repeat offender 40-year-old François Pépin shot the officer through the door using a high-caliber weapon. On May 7, 2008, Pépin pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 12 years.
The blue tree is located at Laval police headquarters and will remain lit for the duration of the holidays.
Missing Laval Woman’s Body Found in Mexico
Dec 13 – The body of a Laval woman found dead in Los Cabos, Mexico is on its way back to Canada.
Christine St-Onge, 41, was last heard from on December 4. Her body was found near the hotel she’d stayed at with Pierre Bergeron, who returned alone and without luggage from their Mexican vacation on December 5, and killed himself later that day.
