Resident dies in Saint Brigid’s Home fire

QCT Staff

A resident of Saint Brigid’s Home in his 70s has died after a fire in a fourth-floor smoking room, the QCT learned Monday morning. The man’s name had not been released by press time.

No other injuries were reported and no other residents witnessed the fire, Mariane Lajoie, a spokesperson for the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, told the QCT. Residents living on the fourth floor were moved to other rooms.

The fire broke out early Sunday evening, Aug. 11, and firefighters and police intervened just after 6 p.m.

“The initial call was received at the 911 centre to the effect that there was a fire on one of the occupants in a smoking area on the fourth floor. Emergency services quickly went to the scene. When they arrived, the fire had been extinguished by one of the employees. Unfortunately, the death of a septuagenarian was confirmed on site. Fire investigators, investigators from the Service de police de la Ville de Québec (SPVQ) and the Forensic Identification Unit are on site to determine the causes and circumstances that led to this death,” Alexandre Lajoie, a media and prevention officer in the public safety division of the Service de prévention contre l’incendie de Québec (SPCIQ; Quebec City fire department) said in a statement.

Richard Walling, president of the Jeffery Hale – Saint Brigid’s Advisory Committee, said he could not comment on the incident. He referred a request for comment to the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale. According to a report in Le Soleil, the city fire commission found that the fire was caused by a “smokers’ article.”

“A psychosocial support team was quickly deployed to the scene to assess and address the various needs of staff and users. All families of residents of the CHSLD Saint Brigid’s Home have been notified of the situation. In addition, additional staff has been requested as reinforcements, among other things, to co-ordinate continuity plans and ensure the safety of the site. Repair work on the damaged premises is upcoming,” Mariane Lajoie, the CIUSSS spokesperson, said. “The SPVQ investigation will determine the causes and circumstances that led to this death. At the same time, work is underway at the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale to conduct an in-depth analysis of the event and determine what corrective action to take, if required.”

An autopsy is expected to reveal the victim’s exact cause of death.

With files from Peter Black and Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporters