Laura Marchand, Montreal Gazette
More from Laura Marchand, Montreal Gazette
Last Updated: July 18, 2016 5:10 PM EDT
A forest firefighter based in Roberval died while fighting a blaze in the Chibougamau region Sunday afternoon.
Régis Tremblay, 61, was at the scene of a blaze when he said he wasn’t feeling well and collapsed, said Gérard Lacasse, prevention and information co-ordinator for the provincial firefighting agency, the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU). Resuscitation attempts took place before he was rushed to a hospital in Roberval, where he was pronounced dead.
It was Tremblay’s 30th season with SOPFEU.
Lacasse said it was too early to tell what caused the death, but said the fire was not “intense” and was already under control. Tremblay was working on the fire for about an hour and a half before the incident.
“We are saddened. It’s something that’s very difficult,” said Lacasse. “It’s very rare that a member of our team dies in the line of duty. Our thoughts are with the family, and with the other firefighters, notably those who offered first aid (to Tremblay).”