After two weeks of forced evacuation due to forest fires, the residents of Lebel-sur-Quévillon can finally rejoice: a reintegration plan will be presented to them on Friday morning, assured the municipality in the evening Thursday.
Three reasons explain this reversal of the situation, indicated Guy Lafrenière, mayor of Lebel-sur-Quévillon, to The Press in the evening. Indeed, earlier in the day, there was no indication that the citizens of the city could return to their homes soon.
First, the Nordic Kraft factory and its chemicals are finally well protected against fires. “Before, we said it wasn’t 100% safe. But there, all the work that had been requested was done, and even much more. Civil security, SOPFEU, everyone accepted the plan this morning. »
Second good news: the wind. The latter changed direction around noon Thursday, pushing back the 344 fire which had approached 5 kilometers 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.
Result: finally positive news for the some 2,000 residents evacuated since June 2. This is the longest mandatory evacuation due to forest fires since early spring.
But it is not said that residents will be able to return to their homes on Friday, warns the mayor. The return will be gradual to ensure that all services are available in the city when citizens arrive.
For example, the grocery store will have to be cleaned and functional. “Vegetables, meat, there is not much good after two weeks,” illustrates Mr. Lafrenière. Same thing with the health center, which has been locked for days. »
“I will not bring families to Lebel-sur-Quévillon without a health center,” adds the mayor. We’d rather have them come a day later than have them come when we’re not ready. »
Details of the reinstatement plan will be released to the public at a press conference at 11 a.m. Friday.
Reinforcement firefighters
Sixty firefighters arrived in the town of Jamésie and began work on the ground on Thursday. They are housed at the community center and the town arena. Other American firefighters also joined them during the day. Those from Portugal will lend them a hand on Friday or Saturday.
PHOTO FROM LEBEL-SUR-QUÉVILLON FACEBOOK PAGE
Sixty American firefighters began working on the ground Thursday in Lebel-sur-Quévillon.
Lebel-sur-Quévillon is also working to provide essential services to these workers, who will number over a hundred by the weekend. Already, earlier in the day, SOPFEU was talking about reintegrating, Thursday or Friday, health care staff as well as grocery store employees.
“We are working today with Civil Security because we need essential services. With all the people who have arrived in Lebel-sur-Quévillon and those who are coming, it takes services from us, ”explained Mr. Lafrenière in a video posted on Facebook Thursday morning.
“SOPFEU needs services and they will bring some of them,” he said.
“We do not yet have the go to prepare for the recovery of our citizens,” he also said. This speech changed at the start of the evening. “We will plan the gradual return this evening, and confirm to you [vendredi]the official date of your return dear citizens, ”wrote the mayor on Facebook in the evening.
Mr. Lafrenière was also reassuring by indicating that the city has not experienced any power outage for two weeks. Some citizens feared that food left in refrigerators or freezers would give off bad smells.
The mayor explained that the Nordic Kraft pulp and paper mill has been fully secured and the trenches around the town are completed. He added that the winds are favorable on Thursday, but that no precipitation is expected in the coming days.