L'Isle-Verte: Firefighters support coroner's report recommendations

The Quebec Association of Fire Chiefs says it agrees with many of the recommendations outlined in a coroner's report into last year's deadly fire at a seniors' residence in L'Isle-Verte, Que.

• L'Isle-Verte: Coroner blames staffing response time
• L'Isle Verte: Fire prompts call for mandatory sprinklers
• L'Isle-Verte: Owner admits he was ill-prepared for major fire

At a news conference this morning, representatives fromthe groupacknowledged volunteer and part-time firefighters need more training.

They also supportedarecommendation from the coroner to merge some of the province's fire departments.

There are around 710 distinct departments in Quebec, whereas Ontario has only 400, with five million more people to serve.

Sylvain Dufresne, speaking on behalf of the association, said merging some of the fire departments would ensure multiple fire houses would be alerted by an emergency call immediately.

He also agreed with a recommendation that all seniors homes be outfitted with sprinkler systems. He added that staffwho work at the residences should be better trained to respond to a fire.

He said the firefighters made many of these suggestions in their own 2012 report, and he called on the Quebec government to act swiftly to make the necessary changes.