Air quality will deteriorate again in the coming days due to forest fires in northern Quebec before respite next weekend. For this reason, La Ronde has chosen to cancel the first evening of fireworks of the International des Feux Loto-Québec, scheduled for Thursday.
As of Thursday, the fire plumes should affect the Outaouais and Montreal regions, said Simon Legault, meteorologist at Environment Canada, during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Models from the federal agency also predict that Friday, the concentrations of fine particles should still be “bad”, and this, until the winds push the smoke north in the following days.
The smog will not be as severe as during the historic episode this weekend, but the air quality will remain “concerning” in the affected regions, estimated Steven Flisfeder, meteorologist at Environment Canada.
And smog episodes will remain an issue this summer, according to Environment Canada, as long as wildfires continue to burn with such intensity.
Very early Wednesday morning, Environment Canada issued a smog warning for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region and the Lower Laurentians. The northern part of the province is affected by a special air quality bulletin.
However, it was deemed good or acceptable in most regions of Quebec, according to the air quality index of the provincial Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks. .
As for the rain of the last few days, up to 40 mm fell in places, but the most affected sectors did not receive the most significant amounts. “We would have liked to have had more,” summed up meteorologist Simon Legault.
Environment Canada also does not expect “very significant” amounts of rain in the next two weeks.
No fireworks on Thursday
Due to the poor air quality expected in Montreal, La Ronde has chosen to cancel the first evening of fireworks at the International des Feux Loto-Québec.
The pyromusical show entitled “Tribute Boy & Girl Bands”, by the firm Royal Pyrotechnie, will not be postponed, due to “the logistics surrounding other stakeholders who ensure safety on our site, on the banks or the Jacques bridge. -Cartier”, specifies La Ronde in a press release.
Scheduled for the opening of the competition, which runs until August 9, the show was to take place on Thursday at 10 p.m.
La Ronde indicates that it made this decision following a recommendation from the Regional Department of Public Health. “The health of Montrealers and Quebecers is everyone’s priority,” she said.
In mid-June, The Press reported that these large pyrotechnic shows alone were responsible for 5 of the 33 days of poor air quality in 2022 in Montreal, or 15% of the total.
The next pyromusical show, scheduled for July 6 and presented by Ukraine, the first country in this 37e international competition, is maintained for the moment.
Back home in Lebel-sur-Quévillon
Residents of Lebel-sur-Quévillon, forced to leave their homes six days ago and for the second time in a month due to forest fires, will be able to gradually return home starting Saturday 1er July. The small municipality of Nord-du-Québec is not out of the woods, however.
During his daily press briefing, held on the municipality’s Facebook page, Mayor Guy Lafrenière shared the good news with his fellow citizens.
“The temperatures of the last few days and those expected in July make a possible return possible,” he said on Wednesday. After consultation with the emergency committee, SOPFEU, the public safety committee and the civil safety committee, we made the decision to gradually return to the municipality starting Thursday, June 29, with the return of citizens on Saturday 1er July. »
More details on the reinstatement procedure should be revealed at the next press briefing, scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m.
However, the game is far from won, said Mr. Lafrenière, recalling that Lebel-sur-Quévillon is still in emergency measures.
“It is still forbidden to make open fires, to go to the forest, and the campsite will remain closed,” he said.
Given that fires continue to wreak havoc near the municipality, despite precipitation varying between 15 and 40 millimeters having fallen in the area over the past two days, “it is possible that a third evacuation will take place in July, and this is out of our control,” the mayor warned.
The evacuation notice in effect since last Friday having been lifted on Tuesday evening, the members of the Cree community of Mistissini were for their part returning to their residence on Wednesday.
On Wednesday morning, SOPFEU identified 73 fires still active in the intensive zone and 37 others in the northern zone.
With the collaboration of Isabelle Ducas, The Pressand The Canadian Press