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Current weather conditions could “reinvigorate” forest fires in Quebec and trigger new ones, the ministry of public security warned Saturday morning.

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The flammability rating is currently “very high” to “extreme” in several areas of the province, the ministry said. Low rainfall and rising temperatures are behind these significant fire risks.

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Therefore, several regions remain under “high surveillance,” namely, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Côte-Nord, Nord-du-Québec and Saguenay—Lac-St-Jean.

SOPFEU, province’s forest fire prevention agency, is “currently fighting 81 active fires in the intensive zone, of which 25 are out of control and 43 are priorities,” the ministry said.

As of Saturday morning, 114 forest fires were active in Quebec, 82 of which were in the intensive zone, SOPFEU figures showed.

The objective is still to fight priority fires to protect communities and certain strategic infrastructure, but some new municipalities have had no choice but to evacuate in the past few hours.

Several sectors of Senneterre, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, were the subject of an evacuation notice on Friday afternoon. Residents of Chemin du Millage 20, de la Chute, des Pionniers, Dion and Ménard had until 5 p.m. Friday to leave their homes, the city said on its Facebook page.

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In the evening, Valcanton, in Nord-du-Québec, ordered the evacuation of the Beaucanton, Val-Paradis and Lac Pajegasque sectors.

As for the residents of the Cree community of Mistissini, located northeast of Chibougamau, they had to evacuate the area on Friday morning. Approximately 3,800 community members were directed to Saguenay.

In Lebel-sur-Quévillon, in Jamésie, a complete evacuation took place Thursday evening as two major fires threatened one of the two roads that connect the small municipality to the rest of the province.

Citizens residing in certain sectors of the city of Val-d’Or, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, have also been evacuated since Tuesday.

All these municipalities are impatiently awaiting the return of the rain, but very little precipitation is expected in the regions by Sunday, or even Monday or Tuesday in the west of the province.

On Saturday morning, Environment Canada issued smog warnings and special air quality weather bulletins for almost all regions of Quebec, except for areas along the St. Lawrence Valley.

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“(Saturday) a plume of fine particles at high to very high concentrations will maintain its trajectory and will further affect the regions of Côte-Nord, Gaspésie, Nord-du-Québec, Saguenay—Lac-St-Jean and des Terres-cries-de-la-Baie-James,” the public security ministry said.

Thus, smog warnings are in effect in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Saguenay—Lac-St-Jean, as well as in Rivière-du-Loup, Trois-Pistoles, La Tuque and Mont-Laurier, among others.

“Smoke from wildfires can be harmful to everyone’s health, even if the concentrations are low,” Environment Canada said. “Everyone can take steps to reduce their exposure to wildfire smoke.”

Among other things, the federal agency recommended reducing activity levels if you feel discomfort while breathing; wearing a properly fitted respirator, such as an N95; and reducing sources of indoor air pollution.

People with lung diseases such as asthma or heart disease, the elderly, children, pregnant women, and people who work outdoors are at greater risk of health effects from smoke, Environment Canada said.

Several other sectors are also subject to a special weather report aimed at warning the population of poor air quality. Such bulletins were published from east to west of Quebec, even reaching Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Current weather conditions could “reinvigorate” forest fires in Quebec and trigger new ones, the ministry of public security warned Saturday morning.

Article content

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Public security ministry warns Quebec forest fires could worsen Back to video

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video

The flammability rating is currently “very high” to “extreme” in several areas of the province, the ministry said. Low rainfall and rising temperatures are behind these significant fire risks.

Article content

Therefore, several regions remain under “high surveillance,” namely, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Côte-Nord, Nord-du-Québec and Saguenay—Lac-St-Jean.

SOPFEU, province’s forest fire prevention agency, is “currently fighting 81 active fires in the intensive zone, of which 25 are out of control and 43 are priorities,” the ministry said.

As of Saturday morning, 114 forest fires were active in Quebec, 82 of which were in the intensive zone, SOPFEU figures showed.

The objective is still to fight priority fires to protect communities and certain strategic infrastructure, but some new municipalities have had no choice but to evacuate in the past few hours.

Several sectors of Senneterre, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, were the subject of an evacuation notice on Friday afternoon. Residents of Chemin du Millage 20, de la Chute, des Pionniers, Dion and Ménard had until 5 p.m. Friday to leave their homes, the city said on its Facebook page.

Article content

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In the evening, Valcanton, in Nord-du-Québec, ordered the evacuation of the Beaucanton, Val-Paradis and Lac Pajegasque sectors.

As for the residents of the Cree community of Mistissini, located northeast of Chibougamau, they had to evacuate the area on Friday morning. Approximately 3,800 community members were directed to Saguenay.

In Lebel-sur-Quévillon, in Jamésie, a complete evacuation took place Thursday evening as two major fires threatened one of the two roads that connect the small municipality to the rest of the province.

Citizens residing in certain sectors of the city of Val-d’Or, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, have also been evacuated since Tuesday.

All these municipalities are impatiently awaiting the return of the rain, but very little precipitation is expected in the regions by Sunday, or even Monday or Tuesday in the west of the province.

On Saturday morning, Environment Canada issued smog warnings and special air quality weather bulletins for almost all regions of Quebec, except for areas along the St. Lawrence Valley.

Article content

“(Saturday) a plume of fine particles at high to very high concentrations will maintain its trajectory and will further affect the regions of Côte-Nord, Gaspésie, Nord-du-Québec, Saguenay—Lac-St-Jean and des Terres-cries-de-la-Baie-James,” the public security ministry said.

Thus, smog warnings are in effect in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Saguenay—Lac-St-Jean, as well as in Rivière-du-Loup, Trois-Pistoles, La Tuque and Mont-Laurier, among others.

“Smoke from wildfires can be harmful to everyone’s health, even if the concentrations are low,” Environment Canada said. “Everyone can take steps to reduce their exposure to wildfire smoke.”

Among other things, the federal agency recommended reducing activity levels if you feel discomfort while breathing; wearing a properly fitted respirator, such as an N95; and reducing sources of indoor air pollution.

People with lung diseases such as asthma or heart disease, the elderly, children, pregnant women, and people who work outdoors are at greater risk of health effects from smoke, Environment Canada said.

Several other sectors are also subject to a special weather report aimed at warning the population of poor air quality. Such bulletins were published from east to west of Quebec, even reaching Newfoundland and Labrador.

Article content