City’s fire department reassures Montrealers

A senior Montreal Fire Department official said the fire that killed at least 12 people in London on Wednesday after flames swept through a 24-storey apartment building is bound to cause fears.

But Stéphane Corriveau, chief of operations for the Montreal Fire Department, sounded a reassuring note when he said firefighting methods and modern building codes reduce the risk of that happening in Montreal.

“Fires of that kind are very uncommon,” Corriveau said. “But we don’t have all the details about the fire in London.”

Corriveau said highrise fires present challenges to firefighters who must quickly ascertain how to safely evacuate a building as swiftly as possible. (The Montreal Fire Department has special units trained for difficult high rescues.)

He said fires in buildings that are four or five storeys usually require a different approach than highrise offices or apartment buildings. He said modern building codes and the use of non-combustible materials in construction also help act as fire retardants.

Sprinkler systems and special fire doors are important measures for confining flames in modern highrise buildings.

“Depending on the situation, in some cases, you want to get as much water on the fire as possible,” he said.

Corriveau also noted that occupants of highrise office buildings or apartments also need to be aware of exit doors and pre-planned evacuation plans.

In a preventive guide the Montreal Fire Department provides to residents of senior homes, officials offered some simple guidelines to follow in the event of a fire:

If you hear a fire alarm or smoke alarm, don’t waste time looking for your belongings. Immediately and calmly start to evacuate the building.

Touch every door with the back of your hand before opening it to make sure it’s not hot. Also, crouch down when you open a door as flames and heat tend to be up near the ceiling.

If the situation seems stable and there is no immediate danger, evacuate the building calmly and close the door behind you.

Use safe exits, like common hallways, emergency exits and stairwells and listen for an agreed meeting spot. Never use an elevator. Check in once you get to the meeting point.

Remember: In any fire, smoke is the greatest danger. The priority is to get outside. However, if there are flames, heat or thick smoke and you can’t get out, follow these steps:

Close the door of your apartment or room and lay a damp sheet or towel along the bottom of the door to keep the smoke out.

Call 911 to tell firefighters where you are.

Show them with a sheet or towel at the window or on the balcony. (Use a flashlight if it is dark out.)

As Corriveau noted, firefighters have no way of knowing who made it out or who is still inside when they first arrive at the scene.