2023-06-18 21:35:03
The Government of Quebec has made the decision to once again close several forests in the sectors affected by historic fires.
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“Due to the light precipitation received over the past few days and the light precipitation forecast at the start of the week, the flammability indices could go from very high To extremes for several regions of Quebec over the next few days, ”says the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests, in a press release.
The Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Mauricie, Nord-du-Québec, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Côte-Nord regions are affected by these changes.
This new closure will be effective from Monday noon.
Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife
Sectors affected
NORTHERN QUEBEC: Jamésie (991), Eeyou Istchee (Waswanipi, Mistissini, Oujé-Bougoumou, Chisasibi, Eastmain, Nemiscau, Waskaganish, Wemindji) (993).
NORTH COAST : Haute-Côte-Nord (95) for its portion north of latitude 49° 15′ and west of longitude 69° 33′, Manicouagan (96) for its portion 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 their portion north of latitude 49° 04′, Le Fjord-du-Saguenay (942) for its portion north of latitude 49° 15′ .
ABITIBI-TEMISCAMINGUE: Témiscamingue (85) for its portion north of latitude 47° 32′ and east of longitude 78° 01′, Rouyn-Noranda (86), Abitibi-Ouest (87), Abitibi (88), La Vallée -de-l’Or (89) for its portion north of latitude 47° 32′.
MAURICIA: La Tuque (90) for its portion west of longitude 74° 31′ to latitude 48° 13′ and for its portion north of latitude 48° 13′.
OUTAOUAIS : La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau (83) for its portion north of latitude 47° 24′.
Help SOPFEU
This ban on going to the forest will give a helping hand to SOPFEU teams, said the organization’s spokesperson, Stéphane Caron, in an interview with LCN.
“When people are circulating in the forest, people may become distressed and may have to be personally evacuated because they are in danger. You know, when SOPFEU is caught up in this, we have to give priority to saving lives. We will sometimes stop our operations to evacuate a person. So that complicates our operations,” explains Mr. Caron.
The latter recalls that in the first days of the current wave of forest fires, SOPFEU had to carry out several rescues of people trapped in their chalet when they should not have been there.
In addition, the prohibited access to several forests also aims to ensure the safety of the population, recalls Stéphane Caron.
“The fires could resume some intensity. So if people venture into those areas, it’s dangerous,” he said.
“People who have no business in the region should stay at home”
The decision of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests should reassure the mayor of Chibougamau, Manon Cyr
In an interview with LCN, the latter had expressed her concern to see people from elsewhere in Quebec going to the forest.
“It is worrying, because the risk of fires is still high. There are still a lot of fires throughout the territory,” said Ms. Cyr
“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 maintains that the people of Chibougamau are particularly careful, because they absolutely do not want to have to evacuate their homes again.
However, the mayor is of the opinion that vacationers from other regions do not always display the same level of caution.
“People who come to the north and who come to fish, at some point, they feel like making themselves a small fire to eat the fish they have caught. And there are reflexes… A badly extinguished cigarette, an exhaust pipe from the mountain bike…”, mentions Manon Cyr.
The elected official claims to have discussed the situation with members of the Legault cabinet as well as the local deputy.
“People who have no business in the region should stay at home and we should avoid going fishing or doing activities in the forest at the moment,” insists the mayor of Chibougamau.
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