Inquest resumes today into fire that killed 32 people at Quebec seniors’ home

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RIVIERE-DU-LOUP, Quebec — A coroner’s inquest resumes today into the fire that killed 32 people at a seniors’ home in eastern Quebec last January.

The inquest sat for six days in November and heard from various people, including firefighters, eyewitnesses and senior citizens who lived at the Residence du Havre.

Testimony revealed that people died trapped in the burning building as would-be rescuers looked on helplessly.

Coroner Cyrille Delage was also told by one witness that by the time he saw the first firefighter “it was already too late” for those in the residence in L’Isle-Verte.

Possible witnesses today include the night guard, provincial police investigators and the co-owners of the home, Irene Plante and Roch Bernier.

The inquest is being held at the courthouse in Riviere-du-Loup, about 200 kilometres northeast of Quebec City.