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Text by Francis Middleton Very sad news, this morning, for the inhabitants of Saint-Jean-de-Matha who have learned that fire has taken the lives of four residents of the small community in the Matawinie. In fact the fire started before 2:00 o'clock this morning on the second floor of a single family residence situated at 161 Rang Saint-Louise Ouest. It is too early to know the cause of the fire. Investigators from the Sûreté du Québec have spent a good part of the day on the scene trying to clarify the circumstances of the drama. At present an electrical problem appears to be the most likely hypothesis. Rescues It was the oldest in the family, a boy of 15 years, who was sleeping on the first floor, who alerted a neighbour, also a family member. After that the boy tried to help the four victims who were sleeping on the second floor where the fire started. With the arrivel of firefighters the victims were rescued from the flames. About ten ambulance technicians were on scene as well as firefighters attempting to restore life to the victims, but in vain. The survivor of the tragedy was transported to the Centre Hospitalier Régional de Lanaudieère (CHRDL) in Joliette where his condition was stabilized. He has since been transfered to the Hôpital Sainte-Justine in Montreal where he remains in critical condition suffering serious burns over more than 70 per cent of his body. A father overcome The father of the family, a truck driver for a local business, had just left the family home, at about 11:00 PM, for a trip to Val d'Or, in the Abitibi. He was quickly located by officers of the Sûreté du Québec at l'Annonciation in the Laurentians. Officers escorted him to the CHRDL where he learned the sad news. Overcome by the events he will be going soon to his oldest's bedside in Montreal. This story reminds us of the tragedy which took place in West Lincoln two weeks ago where a mother and her seven children lost their lives. Photos by Francis Middleton
Photos by Arial Poitras
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