The approximately 2,000 residents of Lebel-sur-Quévillon, in Jamésie, were able to return to their homes on Saturday, for the second time since the start of the forest fire season. But the specter of a new evacuation and financial difficulties hovers.
“Everyone is very happy to find their house, their bed, their little environment, but there is still a lot of concern about a third evacuation. And also financial concerns, ”says Jacynthe Girard, spokesperson for the Forest Fire Mutual Aid Committee.
This committee was set up by organizations and citizens of Lebel-sur-Quévillon to support vulnerable households. On Saturday, they welcomed the bus arriving from Val-d’Or with more vulnerable residents with food.
As of July 30, forest fires are still present in Lebel-sur-Quévillon. The western edge of the gigantic 344 fire is now under control. This blaze is 107 kilometers wide, by 97 kilometers long, almost 24 times the area of the City of Montreal, underlines the municipality on its website.
New American teams were to arrive as reinforcements on July 30 and firefighters from South Korea will join the ranks next week. “It is more than 275 people who are added to fight the fires”, rejoiced the mayor of Lebel-sur-Quévillon on Friday.
Four other fires are still growing, however, he notes.
Financial worries
“My spouse, for example, he works in forestry and they have been off work since 1er June, illustrious Mme Girard. They don’t know when they will start their operations again. That’s a lot of financial loss. »
The municipality, the Golden Lions Club of Val-d’Or and the new Mutual Aid Committee are therefore working to support residents, whether through food or financial aid.
For example, the Committee has developed an agreement with the firefighters to redistribute the food cooked for them – and which is not eaten – to the population.
“We are a small community, very close and very sensitive to what people are going through,” says Mme Girard.
The city of Lebel-sur-Quévillon was evacuated for the first time on June 2 and residents were able to return to their homes on June 18. Four days later, they had already left.
By late Saturday evening, there were 100 forest fires in Quebec, including 67 south of the northern zone.