For the past few hours, the municipality of Normetal, located in Abitibi-Ouest, has been practically surrounded by a forest fire, according to the Quebec government. Reinforcement teams are on site to try to “save the community”.
“We have had a fire that has surrounded Normalmétal or almost for a few hours already. All our teams are on the ground: tanker planes, additional reinforcements on the New Brunswick side to give us an intense helping hand to ensure that the community of Normétal is saved,” declared Public Security Minister François Bonnardel, at a press conference on Saturday morning.
The blaze number 281 has an area of 84.55 square kilometers (8455 hectares). “The perimeter has not grown, we are still 500 meters away [de la municipalité] said Bruno Pelletier, supervisor of natural resources and energy development for New Brunswick.
A total of 74 firefighters are on the ground and a stop line is built using three bulldozers and three excavators to limit the progression of the fire. Bruno Pelletier maintains, however, that Normetal is not surrounded by flames.
An imposing fire in Lebel-sur-Quévillon
In Lebel-sur-Quévillon, in Jamésie, fire number 344, caused by lightning, is about two kilometers from the Nordic Kraft plant and five kilometers from the municipality.
This blaze has an area of 1324 square kilometers (132,404 hectares). “It is certainly the most important fire on the territory of Quebec at present”, declared Mr. Bonnardel.
The approximately 2,100 residents will not be able to return to their homes until next week, Mayor Guy Lafrenière said at a press conference on Friday.
The fire stagnates in Chibougamau
The winds played in favor of Chibougamau, Chapais and Mistissini, where the situation is more stable. “It’s a fire that is stagnating, that is not gaining momentum,” declared Minister Bonnardel. The blaze is about 15 kilometers from the municipalities. On Friday, favorable winds moved the fire away from Chibougamau and the flank of the fire that threatened the Mistissini Aboriginal community was contained.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, THE PRESS
The Minister of Public Security, François Bonnardel
Currently, 13,810 people have been evacuated throughout Quebec. “The situation will remain complicated until Monday,” said Minister Bonnardel.
Saturday morning, 133 forest fires were still active in Quebec. “The battle is not won,” said Minister Bonnardel. More than 861 fighters are in reinforcements in Quebec, including soldiers from the Canadian Armed Forces and French firefighters.
“A certain respite” in Senneterre
In Senneterre, a town in Abitibi south of Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Mayor Nathalie Ann Pelchat expected “some respite” on Saturday. “The forest fire situation is very stable”, but “the air quality will be monitored”.
She still invites residents to clean their land, in order to reduce the risk of the fire spreading. The ban on going into the forest, making open fires and navigating on the bodies of water in the territory continues, while a dam is still in place on Route 113.
Trenches have been dug in certain sectors, in order to secure the urban environment, and new trenches will be added on Saturday, said the mayor.
With Lila Dussault and Henri Ouellette-Vézina, The Press