Quebec coroner calls out ‘hero firefighter’ culture in 2023 flooding deaths

MONTREAL — Quebec’s firefighting academy should warn students that “hero” culture can sometimes lead firefighters to overlook their own safety in their attempts to save others, a coroner said Wednesday.

Coroner Andrée Kronström made the comments in her report on the deaths of volunteer firefighters Christopher Lavoie, 23, and Régis Lavoie, 55, who perished in May 2023 trying to save a couple during intense flooding in Quebec’s Charlevoix region.

Her report released Wednesday said the deaths were the result of a chain of factors — including the fact they used an amphibious vehicle not suited for the situation to cross a flooded field in St-Urbain, Que., northeast of Quebec City.

Kronström told reporters Wednesday in La Malbaie, Que., that the local emergency plan wasn’t widely known by local officials, a fact that prevented them from properly deploying resources.

An expert had testified during the coroner’s inquest that the floodwaters were rushing too fast, and that the firefighters should have recognized it was too dangerous to use the amphibious vehicle to reach the couple, who were trapped in their home.

The vehicle in question, which was owned by Régis Lavoie, was equipped with tracks and an outboard motor, and was meant to be used only on calm water.

The swollen river swept the vehicle off course and into a tree where it capsized. The two men, who were not related, tried to grab hold of a branch but were thrown into the river. The stranded couple, who were eventually saved by helicopter later that evening, saw the firefighters disappear in the rushing water. The men’s bodies were found downstream two days later.

Kronström issued 15 recommendations, including that the firefighting academy add specific training on water rescues, and on the importance of firefighters making their own safety a priority as well as that of others.

The “hero firefighter mentality,” as the coroner described it, can lead them to overlook the importance of safety and prevention. It should be taught at the academy and firefighters should be instructed to “reduce this mentality of being able to intervene in any circumstance.”

Kronström noted that an expert testified the firefighters were focused on the couple in danger. Their reading of the river conditions were faulty because of a lack of training and tools. In this case, the expert found the correct call would have been to hang back and call for a helicopter.

“During training to become a firefighter, they need to be made aware that sometimes it’s not possible to intervene,” Kronström said.

The coroner also found that St-Urbain was unprepared for the situation, but she added it would have been difficult for officials to predict the extent of the flooding. She suggested developing a regional disaster plan for the Charlevoix area, which includes numerous small towns.

In a separate report published a year ago, Quebec’s workplace safety board found a lack of proper training for water rescue and insufficient equipment contributed to the deaths.

The March 2024 report by the safety board found the two men were wearing protective equipment for firefighting, which limited their ability to swim. Two life-jackets were later found near the submerged vehicle, but neither had been worn or adjusted to fit over firefighting gear.

As well, the safety report noted that even if the firefighters had reached the couple’s home, the weight of four people would have been more than their vehicle was built to handle.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 2, 2025.

Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press