By Paul Delean

For The Gazette

Errors by firefighters have left the taxpayers of Rawdon with a hefty bill.

Quebec Superior Court has ordered the town to pay $119,527 plus interest to an insurance company to cover part of its settlement with the owners of a home ravaged by fire.

Judge Robert Castiglio ruled the failure of Rawdon firefighters to bring a key connection for a port-able pump caused a delay that aggravated damage from the fire, which forced a family of four from their home in December 2003.

He also ordered Constructions Gauthier & Frères Inc. to pay the identical amount of $119,527 to AXA Assurances Inc., even though the construction company ceased operation in 2005.

In its suit, AXA argued the fire was due to faulty work by Gauthier on the wood structure around the fireplace of the newly constructed home, and was aggravated by poor execution by Rawdon firefighters.

Read the full article here.