According to the latest data presented Tuesday morning by Minister for Natural Resources and Forests Maïté Blanchette Vézina, 87 fires are still active in the intensive zone and 23 more in the northern zone.
In the intensive care zone, 17 fires are still considered out of control, 26 are under control while the others are contained. In the northern zone only one fire is considered under control and 18 are under surveillance.
However, the predicted hot and dry weather could fuel many fires and ignite others at least until Sunday, the minister stressed.
We could see a resurgence of several fires that we managed to bring under control, Ms. Blanchette Vézina fears.
The Minister of Natural Resources of Quebec and Forests, Maïté Blanchette Vézina.
Photo: Radio Canada / Sylvain Roy Roussel
“This week will be critical in Quebec as high temperatures and little rainfall are expected over the next four days. »
– A quote from Maïté Blanchette Vézina, Minister for Natural Resources and Forests
In anticipation of warm weather and winds over the next few days, flammability ratings will rise from high to extreme in many areas.
Preventive measures are being taken in several regions. The public forest ban area will be expanded in particular in the regions of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Mauricie, Nord-du-Québec, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Côte-Nord.
The ban on open fire anywhere north of the St. Lawrence River also remains in place until further notice. This prohibition includes the use of flammable lanterns, cooking fires, devices that produce sparks, and fireworks.
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With the arrival of National Day and Canada Day in the coming weeks, we will urge the public, civil society organizations and local authorities to exercise extreme caution, the forest minister warned.
The very early wildfire season this year has already destroyed more than 1.4 million hectares of forest in Quebec, 182 times the average for the past 10 years at the same time.
More than 1,500 forest firefighters are currently battling the numerous fires ravaging Quebec’s forests.
Firefighters will not be idle in Canada this summer, according to seasonal forecasts released Tuesday by Environment and Climate Change Canada, which show a high probability of above-normal temperatures from June through September across virtually all of Canadian territory.