If you’re tempted to start a bonfire for the National Day, even if you’re in an area where it’s banned, you should think twice, you’ll face serious consequences.
• Also read: No National Day fireworks in Quebec
After toying with the idea of easing fire bans in towns along the river, the government finally decided to play it safe. Whether you are in your backyard or in the woods, you are not allowed to make a campfire or set off firecrackers anywhere north of the St. Lawrence River.
Violating this rule can also be very expensive, with penalties ranging from $500 to $50,000.
But violating the ban could have even more serious consequences, warns Marc-Antoine Harvey, right-wing popularist at Éducaloi.
“If someone starts a fire in the forest, even though it’s forbidden, and the fire spreads, they could potentially be sued in a civil case in the event of damage to houses,” explains the lawyer.
“And if it really does escalate and people get injured or die from the fire, whoever started the fire could be charged with criminal negligence,” he adds.
The lawyer also points out that lighting a fire in bad faith can also result in criminal charges.
“If someone puts gas into the forest to do something dangerous, that could be a criminal offence. In fact, this would be the case even if there were no ban,” he asks.
Finally, Mr. Lemay recalls that a few weeks ago a woman in Nova Scotia was fined $29,000 for burning wood in her yard near the forest. “That’s the maximum sentence in this province,” says the lawyer.
The wildfire situation remains critical in several places in Quebec due to the hot and dry weather, increasing the risk of new fires breaking out.
On Thursday morning, SOPFEU announced that it was fighting another 104 fires, 21 of which are believed to be out of control. “The prevailing weather situation is exceptional,” said Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Public Security Katia Petit. “We are talking about a very severe drought.”
In view of this situation, the government calls on the population to strictly comply with the rules in force, not to enter the forest in places where it is forbidden and not to light open fires.
“SOPFEU cannot afford to divert its attention from active fires, no more man-made fires must be added,” warned SOPFEU Deputy Director General Julie Coupal.
The risks of defying the ban on lighting fires
- A fine of between $500 and $50,000 if you start a fire or set off a firework, even if there are no serious consequences;
- Civil procedure if the fire spreads and property (house, cottage) is damaged through your fault;
- A prison sentence if the fire you set gets out of control and results in death or injury.
The following is prohibited anywhere north of the river
- campfire;
- Fireworks;
- The Flying Lanterns;
- Using an instrument that produces sparks.
*It is permitted to start a fire in a fireplace fitted with a spark arrester and placed on a dirt or gravel floor
** Access to several forests is still prohibited in the sectors affected by the fires, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, in Haute-Mauricie, in Nord-du-Québec, in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and on the Côte-Nord.