Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

Nearly 40 firefighters from the Gatineau Fire Department were deployed to a major fire that broke out at the rear of a semi-detached house located at 1735 Rue Parisien in Gatineau on Saturday, August 2 at 6:29 pm. The flames quickly spread to the adjacent semi-detached house, subsequently affecting a total of four residences.

As stated in witness accounts, the flames first appeared on the rear balcony of the residence. The cause remains undetermined. According to Martin Vézina, Chief of the Intervention Division of the Gatineau Fire Department, the cause was neither criminal nor intentional. Rumors are circulating that the fire was caused by a barbecue. The extent of the damage was estimated at nearly $1 million. “We still managed to limit the damage to the semi-detached house to the right of the residence in question,” said Vézina. However, the original building was declared a total loss.

A total of 12 residents had to be evacuated. None of them were injured. “The police did an excellent job evacuating the residences throughout the response,” Vézina noted.

“Around 10:30 pm, the situation was under control,” he said. “We took the time to sympathize with the affected residents. Some had lived there for some time. This kind of situation is always moving for us, especially for those who have lost everything.”

No investigation will be held into the cause of the incident. “Following the information and the testimonies obtained, the police department and ours decided to leave the cause undetermined,” explained Vézina.

Photo: Firefighter in front of the burning residences on Parisien Street (August 2, 2025) (MG) Photo: Courtesy of Pierre-Luc Lahaie