Since the start of this forest fire season, more fires than usual have been recorded, despite the ban on open fires which prevails over good part of Quebec territory.
SOPFEU, (Société de protection des forets contre le feu) point out that half of the 142 fires fought so far in Québec have been caused by residents who have lost control of an open fire.
The Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks has decided to modify the ban on open fires in or near the forest. This decision, taken in collaboration with the Society for the Protection of Forests Against Fire (SOPFEU), therefore involves the modification of the territory affected by the ban on open fires in or near the forest. Given the weather conditions that have evolved and the disappearance of the snow cover in many areas, the measure is changed as of May 13 at 8 am .
Despite the cool temperatures, humidity levels generally remain low in several areas, which favors the outbreak of fires.
SOPFEU also recalls that in spring, the greenery is not yet present, it is then that the brush and dead grass are highly flammable. It only takes a few hours of sunshine and a little wind to dry out the brush and increase the risk of fire.
Unfortunately, again this year, many citizens are underestimating the risk associated with burned waste. The protection organization recommends composting, the collection of green residues and the deposit of residual materials at the Ecocenter.
With the arrival of sunny days, the risk of fire will be on the rise in several regions. With the pandemic situation prevailing in Quebec, SOPFEU recalls that each exit of municipal firefighters and those of SOPFEU increases the risk of contamination.
The population is therefore asked to be extra careful, to avoid burning of waste or residual materials and to respect the ban on open fires which is in force in regions where the snow cover has disappeared.
Since the start of the protection season, 142 fires have been started affecting 87 hectares (ha) of forest, 100% of which is attributable to human activity.
On average, SOPFEU records at this time of year, 110 fires for 90.9 ha of forest affected.
The sectors now targeted by this measure correspond to the following RCMs and territories:
ABITIBI-TÉMISCAMINGUE: Témiscamingue .
MAURICIE: Mékinac (35), Shawinigan , Trois-Rivières , Les Chenaux , Maskinongé.
CAPITALE-NATIONALE: Portneuf .
OUTAOUAIS: Papineau , Gatineau , Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais , La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau , Pontiac .
LAURENTIDES: Deux-Montagnes , Thérèse-De Blainville , Mirabel , La Rivière-du-Nord , Argenteuil , Les Pays-d'en-Haut , Les Laurentides , Antoine-Labelle .
LANAUDIÈRE: D'Autray , L'Assomption , Joliette , Matawinie , Montcalm , Les Moulins .
CHAUDIÈRE-APPALACHES: Bellechasse , Lévis, La Nouvelle-Beauce , Robert-Cliche, Les Etchemins (28), Beauce-Sartigan , Les Appalaches, Lotbinière .
CENTER-DU-QUÉBEC: L'Érable , Bécancour , Arthabaska , Drummond , Nicolet-Yamaska .
MONTÉRÉGIE: Brome-Missisquoi , La Haute-Yamaska , Acton , Pierre-De Saurel , Les Maskoutains, Rouville , Le Haut-Richelieu , La Vallée-du-Richelieu Longueuil , Marguerite-D'Youville , Roussillon , Les Jardins-de-Napierville , Le Haut-Saint-Laurent , Beauharnois- Salaberry , Vaudreuil-Soulanges .
ESTRIE: Le Granit , Les Sources , Le Haut-Saint-François , Le Val-Saint-François , Sherbrooke , Coaticook , Memphrémagog .
LAVAL : Laval .
MONTREAL: Montreal .
They would like to remind you that everyone's collaboration is essential if the ban on open fires in the forest is to be respected.
The purpose of this measure is to limit the risk of forest fire. Remember that, under section 239 of the Sustainable Forest Development Act (chapter A-18.1), anyone who contravenes an order prohibiting open fires in or near the forest - or any other measure rendered by the Minister is liable, in addition to the payment of costs, to a fine.
