The cause of the fire was still unclear at the end of the afternoon, but some elements suggested that it could be a suspicious fire. The Sûreté du Québec, which is responsible for the investigation, set up a security perimeter. A fire protection technician is expected on site on Monday, said spokesman Stéphane Tremblay.
First responders were initially called to Western Street between Parc Avenue and Mario Street around 6:30 a.m. Sunday. Waterloo firefighters were quickly dispatched to the scene. Pioneers from neighboring towns were requested as reinforcements, particularly from Granby, Shefford and Sutton/Lac-Brome.
As La Voix de l’Est passed by, an impressive cloud of smoke rose from the building. Residents in the area were asked to close their windows and ventilation systems.
By mid-morning, firefighters were still extinguishing the fire and a large containment perimeter had been established. The facade and roof of the building were severely damaged. A car parked nearby was also damaged.
According to those involved, the building would be a total loss.
Note that the Valcourt Fire Department has been providing relief efforts to the area. A bus from the Haute-Yamaska Rescue Unit was also at the scene of the accident.
Residents moved
Despite the severity of the fire, no people were injured. Only property damage was reported.
The victims were greeted at Waterloo City Hall in the morning. The general manager of the municipality, Louis Verhoef, was notably accompanied by a representative of the Red Cross.
“Under the circumstances, we can say that things are going well. There are no injuries. Everyone managed to get out of the building. I’m not an expert, but I think it’s a total loss,” says Mr. Verhoef.
In total there were 11 victims, including two children aged 11 and 14.
“Some have already made the move. Three people are being accommodated by the Red Cross in a hotel in the area for 72 hours,” said the Director General.