A Sûreté du Québec officer at the scene of an overnight fire in Les CoteauxTuesday December 23, 2014. Eight-year-old Mathis Gagnon was the only survivor of the blaze.
The small town of Les Coteaux is coming together to help the lone survivor of a family of five, ravaged by a fire last week.
Mathis Gagnon, 8, woke up from a coma on Christmas Day after his mother, Karine Desrochers-Gauthier, 32, father, Patrick Gagnon, 37, sister Lorie, 4, and brother Félix, 2, all perished in an apartment fire that broke out on Des Bouleaux St. about 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
"Our town is in mourning," said Les Coteaux Mayor Denise Godin-Dostie. "Everyone here knows either a parent, a grandparent a great-grandparent, or an aunt of little Mathis."
The boy's great-great-aunt, Pauline Lalonde, told Le Journal de Montréal that the sister of Karine Desrochers-Gauthier is likely to take Mathis in and raise him. Most of his family lives in Les Coteaux and the surrounding area, and Mathis's great-grandmother is very active in community organizations. She is the one who called in the fire, since she lives in the apartment below.
Everyone here knows either a parent, a grandparent a great-grandparent, or an aunt of little Mathis. — Les Coteaux Mayor Denise Godin-Dostie
The region's firefighters will be stopping cars on Sunday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the corner of Route 338 and Montée du Compté in Les Coteaux. At least three fire trucks will be stopped with lights flashing, and firefighters will be collecting money. This will likely be the first of several fundraisers expected to be held for the family. As of Jan. 5, citizens will be able to make a donation at the town hall when municipal offices are open.
Michel Pitre, the director of the Régie Intermunicipale d'incendie du Lac Saint-François, said firefighters arrived on the scene 11 minutes after the first call came in, which is well within the minimum limits prescribed by provincial law, but there was little they could do because of the amount of smoke in the apartment. Firefighters did not see any smoke detectors in the apartment.
"The team was really touched by this tragedy," he said. "We pulled five people, including three children, out of the fire. Most firefighters here are also parents, so it really affects us a bit more when we see something like that."
Sylvie Joly, the municipal councillor for the district where the fire took place, said she has received many calls from area residents asking how they can help.
"I have had calls from all around the province asking what they can do," Joly said. "At this time, it's hard to express our deep sympathies, and it's a bit easier to take action. That's why we started this fundraising campaign.
"I am 56 years old, and I grew up in this town, and this family was always here," Joly said. "The family has been here for a very long time, and is well known."
jmagder@montrealgazette.com
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