Non-compliant installations aimed at illegally filling propane tanks are at the origin of the violent fire that forced an entire neighborhood to be evacuated and destroyed two apartment buildings in Val-des-Sources in the eastern townships last summer.
According to a report by the Régie du Bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), André Vachon was running a gas supply business at his home on rue Letendre and at another location on rue Roi before the explosion without being in possession of the necessary permits.
Everything changed on July 29 when a carboy filling went wrong, causing a fire that seriously injured a woman. André Vachon’s house and garage were reduced to rubble, as was a neighboring house.
In addition to the illegality of the trade, the RBQ has identified at least twenty violations of propane gas storage and handling regulations, including the presence of expired cylinders and the storage of highly flammable gas next to the ignition device of appliances.
After the fire, witnesses told TVA Nouvelles that many customers regularly went to Mr Vachon to have their bottles filled with propagation material. A truck also came regularly to deliver petrol.
“Just two weeks ago I said to my boyfriend, ‘Can you imagine if it would do so much damage?’ We are very lucky no one died,” commented a neighbor, who asked not to be identified.
“Mr André Vachon behaved in such a way that he no longer deserves the trust of the public,” the RBQ decided bluntly.
The latter was also summoned to an RBQ hearing to explain himself on March 28-29.
– With the collaboration of Jasmin Dumas, TVA Nouvelles