(Montreal) According to the Department of Public Safety, the spread of wildfires is slowing in several regions of Quebec. However, air quality in several regions of the province remains an issue on Saturday as several evacuated citizens return to their communities.
Posted at 10:24 am.
According to the Society for the Protection of Forests from Fire (SOPFEU), 121 fires are still active in Quebec, including those in the northern zone. SOPFEU fights 32 priority fires.
“The weather conditions of the past few days and the hard work of firefighters have slowed the progression of several fires in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Côte-Nord, Mauricie and Nord-du-Québec regions,” the Ministry of Public Security said in a press release on Saturday morning.
A cloud of fine particles of medium to low concentration is expected to fly over the regions of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Laurentides, Lanaudière and Outaouais during the course of Saturday, the ministry reminds. The North du Quebec region is the region that will always be most exposed to high concentrations of particulate matter.
Environment Canada has also issued a smog alert for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Gatineau and Mont-Laurier regions. In particular, the organization recommends that children with asthma and people with respiratory or heart conditions refrain from engaging in strenuous physical activity outdoors.
Low to moderate levels of particulate matter are expected over Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Outaouais and the Laurentians on Sunday morning, according to public safety.
Preparation for the return to Lebel-sur-Quévillon
The mayor of Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Guy Lafrenière, announced on Friday that the approximately 2,000 citizens evacuated from Lebel-sur-Quévillon will be able to return to their homes on Sunday after two weeks away from the city.
Essential workers can return to the community on Saturday to prepare the city for the return of its population. Residents are able to return to their homes thanks to the fire ditches protecting the community and the Nordic Kraft plant, which stores large amounts of hydrocarbons and chemicals.
However, the fire that is threatening Lebel-sur-Quévillon continues to worry the authorities. Nearly 120 American firefighters arrived on Friday as reinforcements to fight the blaze and will be joined by 140 Portuguese firefighters on Saturday.
In Abitibi-Témiscamingue, according to the Ministry of Public Security, all the residents of Normétal have been able to return to the municipality, as have those of Senneterre.
The forest walk ban continues to apply in certain sectors of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Côte-Nord, Mauricie, Nord-du-Québec and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.