Quebec firefighters who died in 2023 flood lacked training, equipment: safety board [Video]

Two volunteer firefighters who died trying to rescue two people trapped by floodwaters northeast of Quebec City last May lacked proper training and equipment, Quebec’s workplace safety board has found.

The May 1 rescue attempt was not well planned and the amphibious vehicle used by the firefighters was inappropriate for the operation, the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail said in its report released Thursday.

“The lack of training to carry out work near or on water exposed the firefighters to the risk of drowning when they didn’t have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience,” inspectors Caroline Pelchat and François Lachance concluded.

According to the report, the two men, who were identified last year as 23-year-old Christopher Lavoie and 55-year-old Regis Lavoie — and who were not related — had received firefighter training related only to fires. They were attempting to rescue …