Forest fires | Imminent return home for hundreds of displaced

Hundreds of people displaced by the forest fires will be able to return to their homes in the coming days, even the next few hours, announced the Minister of Public Security, François Bonnardel, on Monday. In Lebel-sur-Quévillon, however, a fire remains “hugely important” and increased risks of lightning could reignite fires soon.

Minister Bonnardel still wanted to be reassuring for “Lebel”. The fire in the northeast of the municipality is contained and the winds were favorable on Monday. Residents 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 the press conference in La Sarre. The large pulp mill houses chemicals, among other things.

Conversely, the Minister said he hoped to announce “good news” very soon to the residents of Normétal, Saint-Lambert, Beaucanton and Val-Paradis, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. However, he specified that it is the municipalities, with the approval of the Society for the Protection of Forests against Fire (SOPFEU), who will have the last word and who will authorize the return of their residents.

The Minister said he was encouraged by the rainfall that was expected by Monday evening or Tuesday morning in the region. The rain is expected to last 36 to 48 hours.

However, earlier in the day on Monday, Environment and Climate Change Canada had presented a less optimistic portrait for the coming days.

Insignificant amounts of rain and increased risk of lightning could reignite forest fires, explained Gérald Cheng, meteorological expert at the Canadian Climate Agency, during a virtual press conference.

“The amounts of precipitation will not be sufficient to extinguish the fires. And the rain will be accompanied by showers, quite possibly [aussi] lightning, which is conducive to igniting new forest fires,” he said.

The situation is improving in the East

François Bonnardel took advantage of his conference to point out that the situation in the east of the province, such as in Sept-Îles, has greatly improved in the last few days. Air quality is also better in many areas, though people with health issues should still reduce their outdoor activities, he said.

The Minister of Public Safety has estimated that the forest fires will cost the state tens of millions of dollars. A review will be necessary at the end of the season, in particular to assess whether permanent trenches will have to be built around towns bordered by forests.

Mr. Bonnardel specified that the fight could nevertheless last all summer.

Present at the press conference, the minister responsible for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, Mathieu Lacombe, had to explain his absence from the public square since the start of the forest fire crisis. “I don’t think that in a crisis like this it’s a good idea to have more spokespersons. I also think that we must look at government work as a whole, not just individually, ”defended the one who is also Minister of Culture and Communications.

In Chibougamau, the 7,500 residents received authorization on Monday to return to their homes. They had to leave the city on June 6 in the evening.

Route 167 was reopened to traffic at 8 a.m. and the first vehicles were escorted by Sûreté du Québec patrols. Traffic remained fluid, unlike last Tuesday evening, when the city was evacuated. Citizens had taken more than seven hours to reach Roberval, whereas the journey normally takes three hours.

Around 3 p.m., about 3,000 people had returned to their homes.

“It went really well. Everyone was at the station. Everyone drove with caution,” announced Manon Cyr, Mayor of Chibougamau, during a press conference.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (MRNF) 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. .

However, the ban remains in effect everywhere north of the river.

The MRNF also announced the partial lifting of the forest access ban on lands in the domain of the State in certain regions.

Testimonies of displaced persons

Back home in Chibougamau

“It’s all surreal,” says Kristina Tremblay as she drives down Route 167 toward the house she left six days earlier. The 28-year-old fled Chibougamau last Tuesday evening with her partner and their golden retriever. They found refuge with Kristina Tremblay’s mother, in Saint-Honoré, in Saguenay. “We had good times as a family, but it was very stressful not knowing when we could come home and thinking that we could lose everything in the fire,” she explains.

Glimmer of hope at Normetal

With the rain announced in the coming days, residents of Normétal finally see the end of the tunnel, says Cindy Perreault. Nine days ago, this resident of the Abitibi village took refuge with friends with her spouse and their three children aged 11 months, 2 years and 4 years. “It was quite stressful! We have security cameras at our house and we could see the firefighters spraying down our street because the fire was close. We followed it from a distance, ”she says. The fire came within 500 meters of some homes, including his own.

Weariness in Lebel-sur-Quévillon

In Lebel-sur-Quévillon, residents had to evacuate quickly for 11 days. There is weariness. In order to whip his troops, Mayor Guy Lafrenière gathered his citizens Monday near a shelter in Senneterre. In an emergency, Kate Gosselin, 43, left her home without her scooter and her cat. “I am a resilient person, but I was afraid of having to be evacuated by ambulance. Luckily, I was taken care of by family. I appealed to everyone to borrow a scooter, or a scooter, whatever, I still haven’t found it. We are all under great stress. »