Citizens near the fires raging in northern Quebec must prepare to evacuate their community later in the week due to the upcoming heat and lack of rain.
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“According to all current models, we will indeed have a difficult week,” summarized Katia Petit, deputy deputy minister and government coordinator for civil security, in a press conference on Sunday morning.
Abitibi, Nord-du-Québec, Saguenay and Côte-Nord should be the regions under close surveillance.
The lack of heavy rainfall combined with intense heat could make the work of firefighters more difficult.
“The intensity of the lights can generally be reactivated, but beyond that we could see situations where the lights could also be active at night, which is not currently the case,” Sylvain said. Tremblay, strategic advisor to the management of SOPFEU.
“It’s worrying for the fires that have been contained,” he added.
Barely returned
In addition, the approximately 2,000 residents of Lebel-sur-Quévillon, who were finally preparing to return home after two weeks of evacuation, were warned that they could leave again in an emergency due to the progressing forest fires.
Fire 344, which lies south of Lebel-sur-Quévillon and has burned more than 378,000 hectares, has merged with five other fires.
“The integration notice will remain in place, but you should know that a new evacuation notice could come at any time,” Mayor Guy Lafrenière said in an update Saturday night. When you return to Lebel-sur-Quévillon you must be prepared to evacuate again.”
The flammability index remains “very high”.
It “will increase and be extreme over the next few days,” Mayor Guy Lafrenière said.
“There is no immediate threat,” said Katia Petit.
Currently, 1,400 fighter jets and 19 tanker planes are fighting wildfires in Quebec.
More details to come…