Rimouski Fire Under Control

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27384, 9 May 1950, Page 7

Rimouski Fire Under Control

Rec. 11 p.m. OTTAWA, May 8. The fire which was raging unchecked late yesterday in the industrial city of Rimouski, was brought under control during the night and the danger of a fresh outbreak disappeared early today when the brisk threatening wind died down. \ Army officials on emergency duty called off for the time being plans to dynamite the shells of some big buildings still blazing and threatening to spread flames. As the immense nightmarish fire abated there were conflicting reports of casualties and destruction. It was believed that 10 persons died and 40 were injured but the latest official word from army and Red Cross authorities on emergency duty in Rimouski was that careful investigations had resulted in no confirmation of any deaths due to the fire. The police said that over 2000 have been left homeless. The Mayor, Mr Elzear Cote, estimated the damage at 18,000,000 dollars. He said the town’s western section was deluged by a rain or fire when 15,000,000 feet of drying timber was burned. The huge blaze, whipped by a gale, had, by 3 p.m. yesterday ravaged the outer districts for 20 hours and was eating towards the heart of the city, which has a population of 15,000. Last night the fire destroyed more than 350 homes v and business premises, valued at over 10,000,000 dollars. Four 1 children were said to have been drowned in unexplained circumstances when the fire swept across the Rimouski River, which runs through the city. Two other children were killed by motor cars being driven from the fire. One man was burned to death and another dropped dead after fighting the flames for several hours. An electric power line blown down by the gale was thought to have started the fire in the lumber yard of the pulp paper mill of Price Bros, and Co. The gale at that time was blowing at 50 to 60 miles an hour. The company’s two mills were destroyed as the flames spread along the north bank .of the Rimouski River and devoured rows of workers’ wooden homes. Sparks blown across the 150 ft-wide river started a blaze on the south bank, where the newly-built technical school, a convent, the' city hospital, two hotels and the Rimouski home of the Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec province, Sir Eugene Fiset, were among the buildings destroyed The roads from Rimouski were jammed by the fleeing ‘towns people. Great clouds of smoke rolled through the streets, adding to the panic of the fleeing residents. As thousands fled to other ceinmunities to escape the wall of flames, buildings toppled in quick succession. The radio station manager at Rimouski described scenes of frantic mothers calling for their children as thousands of persons jammed into the streets. Hundreds of men stayed behind and formed bucket lines froqi the St. Lawrence River, but they fought a losing battle. Fire flighting equipment was rushed from 10 neighbouring towns, but low water pressure hampered its use. The army announced this evening that it was organising an air lift to move additional fire-fighting equipment and relief supplies into the area, where already 2000 were homeless. The flight of refugees, which began in the eerie light of the fire last night, continued today, when clouds of acrid smoke continued to envelop the city. The fire fighters thought they had won the battle for the control of the blaze when the gale dropped at dawn, but fresh winds sprang up. The 60-year-old Rimouski Cathedral, around which the city was built, was saved after it caught fire three times.