Thousands attend funeral for Montreal fire captain who died on duty

January 27, 2006 -
MONTREAL (CP) -- A firefighter who died in the line of duty was remembered Thursday, Jan. 26, as a man who embodied his job with his heart and soul.

Several thousand firefighters from across Canada and the United States attended the civic funeral for Capt. Marcel Marleau, who died battling an apartment fire last weekend.

"He had a loving heart, he had the heart of a firefighter, and was a captain on top of that,' said Claude Forest, chaplain for the Montreal fire department.

"He had the heart of a child, full spontaneity and joy. He liked to tease. He had a father's heart. And of course, nonetheless, he had the heart of a spouse,' Forest said.

Marleau was 28-year veteran of the Montreal fire department. He was separated from his fellow firefighters when a room suddenly exploded into flames in what is commonly called a flashover.

Forest said Marleau, 47, was aware of the dangers of his profession and "knew it wasn't a game.'

"He was a firefighter to the bottom of his soul."

Flags at Montreal City Hall and the Quebec National Assembly were flying at half-mast in his honour.

Premier Jean Charest and Mayor Gerald Tremblay were among those who attended the funeral mass at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Old Montreal.

The married father of two had received several commendations for bravery.

Marleau was the fourth Montreal firefighter to die in the line of duty since 1990.

Source: CP, Jan 26, 2006