The courtyard of the Goulet garage in the Saint-Émile district near Wendake was engulfed in flames late Sunday, creating a plume of smoke visible for miles.
Around thirty firefighters from the Quebec Fire Protection Service (SPCIQ) were on the scene at around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, in addition to vehicles from Hydro-Québec and Énergir.
Marc Vallières / QMI agency
There were traffic delays in the area due to the security zone established by the Quebec City Police Service (SPVQ).
According to SPCIQ spokesman Alexandre Lajoie, vehicle carcasses in particular were set on fire. Explosions could be heard regularly: these were the vehicles’ airbag tanks.
Firefighters were still on site shortly after 5 p.m. early Sunday evening to fight the fire. Photo Jean-Philippe Guilbault
A huge cloud of smoke was visible for several kilometers on Sunday evening.
An SPVQ investigation is underway as there are “elements that could indicate that this could be a case of arson,” Mr Lajoie added.
Photo Marc Vallieres
On its Facebook page, Goulet Auto Parts said it had been sold. The store was officially scheduled to close on December 1st.
According to the City of Quebec’s assessment function, Société de développement Wendat now owns the property where the fire broke out.