L'ISLE-VERTE, Que. -- The Quebec town of L'Isle-Verte says the co-owners of a seniors' home where 32 people died in a blaze last January have dropped a lawsuit against the municipality.

A spokesman for the community says in a statement it was told by its lawyers that Roch Bernier and Irene Plante have abandoned their $1.5-million suit.

They alleged the community failed to implement emergency plans which might have lowered the death toll. It also claimed L'Isle-Verte's fire department was not adequately equipped to deal with the blaze at the residence, where many of the elderly inhabitants had limited mobility.

Today's announcement comes four days after the end of a coroner's inquest into the tragedy at the Residence du Havre.

It is not clear whether a separate $2.3-million lawsuit launched by the co-owners' insurance company against L'Isle-Verte will still proceed.

The statement said there would be no further comment.