A second generation of the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent’s Fire Safety Cover Plan will enter into force across the territory on July 1.
The finalized plan was certified by the Ministère de la Securité Intérieure on April 8 and was officially adopted by the regional council during its regular monthly meeting on May 20. The document provides a framework for regional planning in terms of fire prevention, response, and the coordination of fire services within the Haut-Saint-Laurent.
The ten-year plan, which aims to reduce human and property losses due to fires, optimize local fire safety services, and ensure greater regional consistency in terms of risk management, will remain in effect to 2035. The document, which is a legal requirement, serves as a strategic planning tool at the regional level as well as a reference framework and practical guide for all 13 Haut-Saint-Laurent municipalities.
The document includes a comprehensive risk analysis, building classifications, response protocols for low- to high-risk situations, and lists the human, material, and organizational resources in a coherent and effective manner. The plan provides for regional coordination, improved fire prevention and response measures, automatic deployments, and a detailed implementation plan that complies with Public Safety Ministry guidelines.
According to the MRC’s fire safety coordinator, Mégane Herbeuval, the revision process for the plan took approximately three years to complete. “We were ready as early as 2024, but changes to the Fire Safety Act and updates to ministerial guidelines in 2025 led us to adjust the document three times to ensure full compliance,” she said.
“Several elements have been significantly revised since the first draft was developed,” she said, noting the document now conforms to the updated guidelines, particularly regarding risk management, service coverage, and regional coordination.
Herbeuval explained that the development of the plan was based on a highly collaborative approach involving municipal partners, members of the MRC’s regional fire safety committee, and the region’s fire service directors and department chiefs. These groups met around ten times to work on different document sections and to validate the proposed guidelines.
“This process made it possible to develop a collaborative, realistic plan that is well-suited to the needs of the region,” said Herbeuval. Various versions of the plan were sent to the municipalities for feedback to ensure the final document reflects local realities. A public consultation also took place.
This people-centered approach was important as fire safety relies largely on citizen-led prevention measures, including the installation and maintenance of smoke alarms, regularly checking electrical systems, using heating appliances safely, and exercising caution when using open flames.
“Fire safety is a shared responsibility: municipalities and fire departments establish the structures and respond to emergencies, but residents’ cooperation is essential to reducing risks and improving safety for everyone,” said Herbeuval.