(Quebec) After a historic summer which will leave a deep scar on the Quebec forest, Quebec promises to “learn lessons” from the fires which ravaged the province in 2023. For the moment, however, there is no question of increasing the fleet of SOPFEU tanker planes or to hire new firefighters.
What there is to know
- In southern Quebec, the area burned this year is 82 times higher than the average of the last ten years.
- In June, the area burned already exceeded the sum of areas burned over the last 20 years
- 1.1 million hectares were burned this year in intensive protection zones, compared to 15,815 hectares on average.
- The area burned is three times larger than the last record, in 2005.
- For the moment, Quebec does not intend to hire more firefighters at SOPFEU or increase the fleet of air tankers, even if the organization admitted to having “stretched its capacities” to the maximum during summer.
“The 2023 season will have left a scar on the Quebec forest. There will be one before the summer of 2023 and one after the summer of 2023. We will learn lessons,” said the Minister of Natural Resources and Forests, Maïté Blanchette Vézina, at a press conference on Tuesday.
At the same time, the minister announced an increase in the budget of the Society for the Protection of Forests Against Fire (SOPFEU). An initial envelope of 13 million will allow it to acquire “different types of vehicles, mobile housing units and telecommunications equipment” and will finance a training program for auxiliary combatants.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Maïté Blanchette Vézina
A second sum of 3 million is allocated to the “deployment of good practices in the prevention and mitigation of forest fires”. Is this enough, when at the same time, the Legault government announced the granting of a subsidy of 5 to 7 million for the arrival of the Los Angeles Kings in Quebec?
Minister Blanchette Vézina replies that the government’s reflection is only just beginning, and that 200 million have been announced to replant nearly 40 million trees over the next eight years.
Climatic changes
“We know that the context of climate change has an impact on the frequency and intensity of natural disturbances which affect our forests, and as I said, we must take stock,” she said at a conference of press.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Of the 14 tanker planes belonging to SOPFEU, 8 are modern aircraft. But the others will have to be replaced.
For his part, the general director of SOPFEU, Eric Rousseau, said he was happy with the announcement, but recognized that the organization has unmet needs. Of the 14 air tankers belonging to the organization, 8 are modern aircraft. But the others will have to be replaced. “We are in discussions with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Natural Resources,” he said.
He affirmed that SOPFEU is “agile enough” to be able to get away with “collaboration agreements with other organizations to compensate for this shortfall until 2030”.
But when SOPFEU had to expand its protection territory, it lacked pilots and planes. “When we look at a season where we went a lot to the northern zone to protect communities and Hydro-Québec infrastructure, […] we come in need,” he said.
Employees on the floor
The year 2023 has also left its mark on Mr. Rousseau’s organization. Around twenty employees had to take a “break” following this hectic season. “We are going through very intense things and it is difficult for the staff,” explained the director of human resources, Dominic Pagé.
The summer of 2023 hasn’t given them much rest. At the end of May, “the capacities of SOPFEU were already exceeded,” explained Mr. Rousseau, and the fire risks were high to extreme everywhere in the territory.”
1er June, 182 new fires were ignited by a dry line of lightning, causing what he called “the great overflow.” In comparison, the operational capacity of SOPFEU is a fight against 30 forest fires, or a single fire of 1000 hectares.
Over the summer, nearly 27,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes, roads were closed and access to public forests was prohibited for almost two months.
Quebec, however, had external help:
- 140 firefighters from other Canadian provinces
- 1000 Canadian Armed Forces personnel
- 450 American firefighters
- 340 French firefighters
- 140 Portuguese firefighters
- 140 South Korean firefighters
- 100 Spanish firefighters
