Port-Cartier will remain in a state of emergency on Sunday. The municipality of the North Shore, struggling with forest fires which continue to progress, had declared a state of emergency the day before, for a period of five days. A return of residents to their homes is not currently envisaged.
After a meeting with the Society for the Protection of Forests against Fire (SOPFEU) in the morning, the authorities held a press conference early in the afternoon on Sunday to take stock of the forest fire situation.
The fires are still progressing, but according to a more optimistic scenario. SOPFEU representative Mélanie Morin explained that the weather conditions of Saturday and Sunday with less wind and more humidity prevented the fires from progressing further towards the south and towards homes. However, they are still active and out of control.
The news is still positive, because ground teams could be dispatched tomorrow. Until now, the intensity of the fires did not allow ground teams to fight the fire safely enough.
A major fire management team has also been set up since Saturday afternoon, said M.me Morin, and operates from the Sept-Îles base. “In total, this evening, there will be 172 forest firefighters, auxiliary fighters, managers and support staff who will be assigned to this complex,” she said.
Minister Kateri Champagne Jourdain announced that an emergency council of ministers took place Sunday morning to reactivate the emergency aid program for evacuated residents. Prime Minister François Legault made the same announcement on his X account during the Port-Cartier press conference.
Compensation of $1,500 per main residence evacuated has been validated and residents can now make a claim on quebec.ca.
The minister also announced that the extraordinary expenses of municipalities struggling with forest fires will be fully reimbursed by Quebec.
Environment Canada issued a special bulletin on air quality for the Sept-Îles and Port-Cartier sectors on Sunday morning, warning that “smoke from forest fires causes or risks causing poor air quality. air and reduced visibility,” Sunday.
The federal agency recommends that people most likely to be affected by smoke reduce or postpone strenuous activities outdoors, and consult a doctor if they think they need assistance. People more vulnerable to smoke include the elderly, pregnant people, infants, young children and people with chronic health conditions.
The federal agency also suggests that the population limit the time spent outdoors and keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.
Prisoners evacuated
The Port-Cartier penitentiary was evacuated on Saturday due to forest fires raging near the city.
The 225 inmates were transferred to other secure federal correctional facilities, Correctional Service Canada confirmed Sunday.
“To carry out the evacuation, we have put in place measures, in collaboration with our partners, to maintain the safety of our staff, the public and the offenders in our custody,” the federal agency said in a press release. .
Nine forest fires were active in intensive zones, according to the SOPFEU website. Among them, five were located in the MRC of Sept-Rivières, where Port-Cartier is located. Two of them were described as “content” on the organization’s website, while the others were listed as “out of control.”
With Léa Carrier, The Press