(Quebec) As Lebel-sur-Quévillon is still surrounded by wildfires out of control, Quebec is not able to determine when its 2000 inhabitants will be able to return to their homes. The situation remains worrying in Chibougamau, where an evacuation is “clearly” possible.
This was indicated by the authorities of Civil Security and SOPFEU during a press briefing in Quebec on Thursday.
There are still 126 active fires in Quebec, which includes 20 fires in the northern zone. Thirty-eight are out of control.
The two most affected regions remain Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Nord-du-Québec, while “the situation is normalizing” elsewhere.
In these two regions, the rain has not been significant and it will be so for the next two or three days before the resumption of good weather.
A return of the evacuees on Thursday had been mentioned in the last few days, but this scenario was ruled out because the expected rain “was not up to what was expected”.
“I wouldn’t want to create expectations. I don’t have a date to give clearly at the moment” as to the lifting of the evacuation. “It may be a little bit before next week, it may be during next week. We are actively working with the municipality to ensure that this is done as safely as possible, ”said Jean Savard, director general of operations for Quebec Civil Security.
The authorities also have “concerns” about Chibougamau, although the situation is different from that of Lebel-sur-Quévillon. The inhabitants of the municipality must remain alert. “The two main fires are at least fifteen kilometers from the communities. We have a reaction time. Yes, people need to be vigilant. We must be ready for the days, weeks to come to react, “said Sylvain Tremblay, strategic advisor to the general management of SOPFEU.
Are there any chances of an eventual evacuation for Chibougamau? “Clearly”, he replied, specifying that it would not be however “not today”. This will be necessary “if we are not able to ensure a certain organization of the closest fires”.
Some 1,200 workers are fighting the forest fires. It will be 1500 on Friday as reinforcements from the United States join the fight. About 1.2 million hectares of forest have burned so far.