A residential fire in Quebec City's St-Sauveur neighbourhood turned fatal on Saturday night, claiming the life of a man, according to local authorities.
Emergency Response to Second-Floor Blaze
Multiple calls to 911 alerted emergency services to smoke and flames emanating from a second-floor unit of a building located on St-Mathias Street. The Quebec City police department confirmed that first responders were dispatched at 6:42 p.m. on January 4, 2026.
Upon arrival, firefighters confirmed the active fire and immediately directed a water jet at the involved unit. This aggressive action was necessary to both search for potential victims and gain control over the spreading flames.
Victim Located and Pronounced Dead
During their search of the smoke-filled unit, firefighters discovered an unconscious man. They quickly extracted him from the building. Firefighters initiated life-saving measures on scene before paramedics arrived and took over resuscitation efforts.
Despite these attempts, the man was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Police have not yet released the victim's identity.
Investigation into the Cause
The fire was reported to be under control by approximately 7:40 p.m., with damage contained primarily to the single unit of origin.
An investigation into the cause and circumstances of the deadly fire is now underway. The Quebec City police department's investigators and forensic identification service are leading the probe, with collaboration from the Quebec City Fire Investigation Office (Commissariat aux incendies).
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact them confidentially. The general information line is 1-888-641-2447, while Quebec City residents can call 418-641-2447. The file reference number is QUE-260103-229.
