Arson charges filed in the Georges Street fire

Grace Richards

Just before 10 pm on February 28, an apartment building on Georges Street was set on fire. The police apprehended a suspect that same evening. The following morning, charges were filed by the Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau (SPVG) against 41-year-old Christian Larocque, a resident of the area who was also impacted by the fire. The other residents of the building were able to return to their homes that evening after the fire was put out.

Upon their arrival on the evening of the fire, police established a perimeter to ensure the safety of residents and to facilitate the efforts of firefighters from the Service de sécurité incendie de Gatineau in extinguishing the blaze.

During the course of their investigation, police spoke with several individuals present at the scene, ultimately leading to Larocque being taken into custody for questioning.

While residents were temporarily evacuated to allow firefighters to contain the fire, they were later permitted to return to their homes once the situation was deemed safe. However, the scene remained under police surveillance to facilitate a thorough analysis by investigators and a fire scene technician.

Following further investigation, the SPVG announced on March 1, 2024, that charges had been pressed against Christian Larocque by the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP). The investigation revealed that the fire was determined to be arson.

Christian Larocque appeared before the Court of Quebec on March 1, 2024, to face charges including arson causing danger to human life, arson causing damage to property, and uttering threats.

The investigation into the fire is still ongoing, as is the criminal case against Larocque.