The Quebec government has decided to re-close several forests in sectors affected by historic fires.
• Also read: Heat and no rain: Wildfires could lead to more evacuations
• Also read: Potential upcoming heatwave: hotter in Quebec than Miami?
• Also read: Lebel-sur-Quévillon: immediately reinstated, immediately evacuated again?
“Due to the low rainfall over the past few days and the low rainfall announced earlier in the week, flammability indices could rise from very high to extreme in several regions of Quebec over the next few days,” the Department of Natural Resources and Forestry said, per press release.
The regions affected by these changes are Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Mauricie, Nord-du-Québec, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Côte-Nord.
This new closure will apply from Monday noon.
Department of Natural Resources and Wildlife
Affected Sectors
NORTH QUEBEC: Jamésie (991), Eeyou Istchee (Waswanipi, Mistissini, Oujé-Bougoumou, Chisasibi, Eastmain, Nemiscau, Waskaganish, Wemindji) (993).
NORTH COAST : Haute-Côte-Nord (95) for its part north of latitude 49° 15′ and west of longitude 69° 33′, Manicouagan (96) for its part bounded by the following cardinal points:
68° 56′ W 49° 28′ N 68° 56′ W 49° 47′ N 68° 25′ W 49° 47′ N 68° 25′ W 49° 28′ N
SAGUENAY-LAC-SAINT-JEAN: Maria-Chapdelaine (92) and Le Domaine-du-Roy (91) for its part north of latitude 49° 04′, Le Fjord-du-Saguenay (942) for its part north of latitude 49° 15′.
ABITIBI TEMISCAMINGUE: Témiscamingue (85) for its part north of 47° 32′ latitude and east of 78° 01′ longitude, Rouyn-Noranda (86), Abitibi-Ouest (87), Abitibi (88), La Vallée-de-l’Or (89) for its part north of latitude 47° 32′.
Mauritia: La Tuque (90) for its part west of longitude 74° 31′ to latitude 48° 13′ and for its part north of latitude 48° 13′.
OUTAOUAIS: La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau (83) for its part north of latitude 47° 24′.
Help SOPFEU
This ban on going into the forest will help the SOPFEU teams, said the organization’s spokesman, Stéphane Caron, in an interview with LCN.
“As people move about in the forest, they may find themselves in distress and may need to be evacuated in person because they are in danger. You know, if SOPFEU is involved in this matter, we must prioritize saving lives. Sometimes we interrupt our operations to evacuate a person. That complicates our processes,” explains Mr. Caron.
The latter recalls that in the first days of the current wave of forest fires, SOPFEU had to rescue several people who were locked in their chalet even though they shouldn’t have been there.
Stéphane Caron reminds that the ban on access to several forests is also aimed at ensuring the safety of the population.
“The fires could reach a certain intensity. So when people venture into those areas, it’s dangerous,” he said.
“Those who have no business being in the region should stay at home”
The Department of Natural Resources and Forests’ decision should reassure Chibougamau Mayor Manon Cyr
In an interview with LCN, she had expressed concern about people from other parts of Quebec going into the forest.
“It’s worrying because the risk of fire is still high. There are still many fires throughout the area,” Ms Cyr said
“The flammability is enormous, so you have to restrict access to the forest. It just seems like common sense to me,” she added.
Manon Cyr stresses that people in Chibougamau are being extra careful because they don’t want to evict their homes again.
However, the mayor believes that vacationers from other regions do not always show the same level of caution.
“People who come up north and come fishing, at some point it feels like making a little fire to eat the fish they’ve caught. And there are reflexes… A badly extinguished cigarette, a mountain bike exhaust…” mentions Manon Cyr.
The elected official claims to have discussed the situation with members of Legault’s cabinet as well as the local MP.
“People who have no business in the area should stay at home and we should not go fishing or engage in forest activities at this time,” said the mayor of Chibougamau.