A Quebec safety board report released today laid blame on the city of Montreal for the death of Fire Captain Marcel Marleau.
Marleau, 47, died Jan. 21, 2006, battling an apartment fire on Langelier Blvd. He was directly in the path of the fire and was not wearing a face mask breathing apparatus at the time of the flare-up.
His face mask was on his shoulder at the time of the accident.
The Montreal Fire Department is withholding official comment until they have studied the report released by the Commission de la sant et de la scurit du travail.
The union representing Montreal firefighters issued a statement questioning the leadership of the Fire Department director for not publicly answering the charges.
The report by the CSST, the provincial workplace, health and safety commission, was highly critical of the city’s fire department for improperly supervising Marleau during the intervention and not insisting that he wear a mask.
Marleau, a 28-year veteran of the force, was trying to shove a smoldering couch out the window when gases that had pooled from the sofa ignited and created a flashover.
He was cut off from his men, burned in the face, had no facial protection from the flames and smoke and died .
The CSST said the city of Montreal, the employer, had an obligation to make sure employees were wearing their masks in dangerous conditions and was negligent in supervision.
The Firefighters Association issued a statement demanding that Fire Department director Serge Tremblay face up to his leadership and comment publicly on the safety report.
Spokesperson Jose Gosselin said there would be no official comment today from the Montreal Fire Department and that the executive were still studying the report.
The CSST fined the Montreal Fire Department $10,000 in 2007 for the same infraction, but it has taken two years for the final investigation to be completed.
The Montreal Fire Department pleaded not guilty to the 2007 fine and the matter will be heard in Quebec court, said CSST spokesperson Daniel Legault.
By Anne Sutherland
The Gazette
