A major fire, presumably of suspicious origin, completely destroyed a commercial building in Ange-Gardien on the Côte-de-Beaupré on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.
“It’s 5 years of my life that just went up in smoke. I put everything I owned there. I’m standing naked on the street right now,” breathes Stéphane Robitaille, owner of Mécanique à Bas Prix.
His company, along with the future premises of Krown Antirust and the LB Auto Aesthetic Center, fell victim to the flames around midnight.
Photo Guy Martel
By the time first responders arrived, the fire had already spread throughout the building at 6008 Boulevard Sainte-Anne. The approximately 25 firefighters deployed on site had no choice but to extinguish the fire in defense mode.
“There wasn’t much left to save, we already knew it was a total loss. The fight lasted until around 4 a.m.,” explains Normand Huot, director of the Boischatel-L’Ange-Gardien fire department.
Fortunately, the event did not cause any injuries.
Photo QMI Agency / Guy Martel
Explosions
However, the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) took responsibility for the case because the fire could have been a criminal offense.
“Certain elements indicate that the fire is of a suspicious nature,” said Ève Brochu-Joubert, spokesman for the provincial police.
Photo Guy Martel
Witnesses also said explosions were heard during the fire, but authorities did not confirm this.
Investigators and a fire protection technician were on site to analyze the scene of the accident. No suspects have been arrested at this time.
The director of the Boischatel–L’Ange-Gardien fire department, Normand Huot. Photo provided by Normand Huot
A tragedy”
On the part of Mécanique à Bas Prix, the consternation was at its highest the day after the tragedy.
“All I know is that I have nothing to blame myself for. I have dedicated my life to this workshop, I work like an idiot to satisfy my customers,” complains the owner of the shop.
Photo Guy Martel
Mr. Robitaille emphasizes that the arrival of Krown Antirust and the LB Auto Aesthetic Center next spring should finally provide “grist for the mill” for the sector.
“It’s a tragedy, I’m completely devastated. It was my baby. When I left at 8:45 p.m. everything was beautiful,” he confided to the Journal, trying to understand who could be so angry with him to destroy everything he had built.
Photo Guy Martel
Can you share information about this story?
Write to us or call us directly at 1 800-63SCOOP.