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Co-owner of Quebec seniors' residence where 32 died wants inquiry into fire

Darpan News Desk Darpan, 11 Aug, 2014 01:37 PM

QUEBEC - The owners of a seniors' home where 32 residents died in a tragic fire are calling for a public inquiry into the disaster.

Roch Bernier, one of the co-owners of the Residence du Havre, says people have a right to know the real story behind the Jan. 23 blaze.

Bernier is part of a $3.8-million lawsuit against the town of L'Isle-Verte. The suit alleges the community failed to implement emergency plans which might have lowered the death toll.

An insurance company is also involved in the lawsuit and is seeking $2.3 million of the $3.8 million.

Investigations into the tragedy are already being carried out by Quebec provincial police, the coroner's office and the fire commissioner.

Bernier attended a news conference in Quebec City today with his lawyer, Guy Bertrand, and urged Premier Philippe Couillard to call the public inquiry.

In the lawsuit, Bernier alleges the L'Isle-Verte fire department was not adequately equipped to deal with the fire at the seniors' residence, where many of the elderly inhabitants had limited mobility.

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