Montréal, 19 August 2014 - Following the deplorable events that occured at Montréal city hall last evening - events that many fire department employees learned about with shock and dismay - management at the Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal (SIM) issued an appeal for calm among its employees.

Our organization's chief mandate is to make the agglomeration of Montréal safer by protecting lives, property and the environment. All employees are therefore duty-bound to behave accordingly. Thus, where an employee of our organization commits a reprehensible act, whether on-duty or off-duty, and that act is witnessed, SIM management will bear its responsibilities and assume its leadership by acting accordingly, as mentioned in the message issued by its fire chief on August 13, 2014. The consequences could take the form of disciplinary measures, up to and including dismissal. An inquiry (identification of illegal acts) led by the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal is currently underway.

The SIM disapproves of the methods used yesterday by protesters. The use of physical force, intimidation and the destruction of public property are totally inacceptable. Furthermore, actions by a member of the fire department that are likely to compromise public safety will not be accepted.

In spite of the tenuous situation currently affecting fire department employees, fire chief François Massé and the members of the management condemn yesterday's actions and reiterate that no such situations will be tolerated.

The SIM hereby appeals to the better judgment of its employees so that events such those of yesterday do not occur again. The SIM reminds its employees that it is their duty to maintain and preserve the public peace.