Hundreds of refugees from the forest fires will be able to return to their homes in the coming days or even hours, Public Security Minister François Bonnardel announced on Monday. In Lebel-sur-Quévillon, however, a fire remains “tremendously important”.
Minister Bonnardel still wanted to be reassuring for “Lebel”, the city of Jamésie. The fire in the northeast of the municipality is contained and the winds are favorable on Monday. Citizens who have been evacuated for 10 days will however have to take their troubles patiently.
“The concern in Lebel-sur-Quévillon with this huge fire on the territory is the Nordic Kraft factory. In the sector, we can say that it is because of this factory that we must take all the necessary precautions,” he declared during a press conference in La Sarre. The large pulp mill houses chemicals, among other things.
Conversely, the Minister hopes to announce “good news” to the citizens of Normétal, Saint-Lambert, Beaucanton and Val-Paradis, very soon. Rain is also forecast for these areas of Abitibi by Monday evening or Tuesday morning. Rainfall is expected to last 26 to 48 hours.
However, thunderstorms are expected in the coming days, Environment and Climate Change Canada warned in a separate press conference on Monday morning.
“Even if it’s never the fun in summer, we will hope for a few showers and even continuous rain for 36-48 hours. This will give people a little hope and above all allow us to fight even harder,” said Minister Bonnardel.
In Chibougamau, the 7,500 citizens received authorization to return to their homes on Monday morning at 10 a.m. They had to leave in the evening, six days ago.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests also decided to modify the ban on open fires in the forest on Monday, given the weather conditions that have changed in the regions south of the St. Lawrence River.
The ban remains in Nord-du-Québec, on the Côte-Nord, in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, in the Laurentians, in Lanaudière, among others.
The MRNF also announced the partial lifting of the forest access ban on lands in the domain of the State in certain regions.
Forest fires in Quebec in numbers
- 130 active fires
- 34 fires are fought by firefighters
- 880 firefighters are active on the ground or in the air
- 19 tanker planes fly over the fires
- 72 helicopters support firefighters