The number of forest fires remains “worrying”, but the picture is slowly improving. In Lebel-sur-Quévillon, where a reintegration plan must be presented to citizens on Friday, the flammability index however increased overnight from Thursday to Friday, hence the importance of remaining “vigilant”.
This is what the Minister of Natural Resources and Forests, Maïté Blanchette Vézina, argued on Friday during a press scrum at the Val-d’Or airport in the morning. “Currently, the situation is still worrying, but with the succession we have, as much from the United States as from France, Portugal, Spain, New Brunswick, it allows us to see improvement” , she explained.
Some nine new fires are “contained” in Quebec and there were 104 fires still active at the start of the day. “The highest priority fires remain in the western region, of course Lebel-sur-Quévillon, to which we are sending United States personnel at the moment. They arrived. I will go see them later with the SOPFEU teams,” the minister said.
In the coming days, the member for Rimouski says that these American firefighters “will especially help us to secure other sectors around the fire”.
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Maïté Blanchette Vézina
After two weeks of forced evacuation due to forest fires, the residents of Lebel-sur-Quévillon learned Thursday evening that they will finally be presented with a reintegration plan on Friday, around 11 a.m.
Three reasons explain this turnaround, according to Mayor Guy Lafrenière. First, the Nordic Kraft plant and its chemicals are well protected against fires. Then, the wind which changed direction around noon Thursday, pushing back the 344 fire which had approached 5 km from Route 113. This road is the only one that leads to this city in Northern Quebec. Finally, the arrival of firefighters from the United States makes a difference on the ground, notes Mr. Lafrenière.
“We are talking about extraordinary measures, so it is important not to keep [les citoyens évacués] when SOPFEU assures us of people’s safety. People are eager to return home. But let’s remember to be careful. If you go into the public forest, you have to be able to evacuate quickly, the situation can remain dangerous,” maintained Minister Blanchette Vézina, reiterating that the ban on open fires remains in effect north of the river.
A rising flammability index
Asked whether her optimism could be short-lived, with the warm weather expected in the coming days, the Minister revealed that “the flammability indices in the Lebel-sur-Quévillon sector were not as significant when I I had my briefing on Thursday evening only this morning”. “The situation changed overnight,” she pleaded, illustrating the need to “stay vigilant”.
“For the rest, we are monitoring the situation from hour to hour in connection with the precipitation. The regions in the center received several millimeters of water, so for the moment the situation is under control,” added the minister.
In this city of just over 2,000 residents, residents have had to contend with the longest mandatory evacuation due to forest fires since early spring.
For the time being, it is not said that residents will be able to return to their homes on Friday, warned Mayor Lafrenière. Their return will be done gradually to ensure that all services are available in the city when citizens arrive. A committee will be set up to coordinate the operation.
With Lila Dussault and Emilie Bilodeau