Emergency services prepare as freezing rain storm moves into Montreal region

After two days of bright, beautiful weather, Montreal emergency services say they’re bracing for impact in anticipation for a plot twist in the weather.

As freezing rain moves into the region, first responders across the city warn that the storm could bring a spike in calls over the coming days. They’re advising residents to stay safe in order to ensure services don’t get overwhelmed.

“We’re expecting a significant increase in the calls, specifically for those branches falling on wires, either creating sparks, creating fires,” said Chris Ross, president of the Montreal Firefighters Association.

Hydro-Québec told CityNews that crews are already on standby across the province.

“We’re making sure that we’re having all the crews ready to hit the ground as soon as they’re needed,” said Cendrix Bouchard, spokesperson for Hydro-Québec. “That means 550 crews, 1,100 people throughout the province.”

The utility said preparations made since the major ice storm in 2023 could help reduce the impact of outages this time around.

Last year, Hydro-Québec said it spent about $150 million trimming trees near power lines, cutting tens of thousands of branches and trees to reduce the risk of damage during storms.

“We actually cut some branches and trees, tens of thousands in the last year,” Bouchard said.

Bouchard encouraged residents to download the Hydro-Québec mobile app, which provides updates on outages and estimated restoration times.

Emergency responders are also reminding Montrealers to be cautious in the event of a blackout.

Firefighters warn that attempts to stay warm or cook using open flames indoors can quickly become dangerous.

“Anything that’s an open flame is a possibility of something that will start a fire. It’s also a possibility of something that will generate carbon monoxide,” Ross said. “If you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector in your house, you should.”

Paramedics also say they often see a rise in carbon monoxide exposure during power outages, especially when people improvise when trying to keep warm.

“We tend to see frequently is when there’s no power, people try and get creative with ways to cook food or stay warm,” said Vanessa Grillo, chief of operations at Urgences-santé.

“Then we end up getting an influx of calls for carbon monoxide exposure or carbon monoxide poisoning.”

Urgences-santé is also warning icy conditions can lead to more slips and falls, which could slow response times as paramedics navigate slippery streets and entrances.

“You see fractured hips and lower body injuries. Even when people try and break their fall, wrist injuries and things like that,” Grillo said.

Officials say those experiencing non-life-threatening injuries should consider calling 811, where nurses can provide advice and help direct people to appropriate resources.

Authorities are also urging residents to limit unnecessary travel, take extra care on sidewalks and stairs and make sure entrances are clear and safe.

They’re also encouraging people to check in on vulnerable neighbours and loved ones.

“Make sure they have everything they need — their medications, enough food to last them a couple of days,” Grillo said.