Open-air campfires in the forest allowed again in certain regions

(Montreal) The return of the rain, after several days of good weather, allows the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests to lift the ban on open fires in and near forests in certain regions, as of 8 h Saturday.

The decision to modify the territory affected by this ban was taken in collaboration with the Society for the Protection of Forests Against Fire (SOPFEU) due to the precipitation received in the west and south of the province.

On Tuesday, the ministry imposed this ban in a dozen regions, affected in whole or in part, in order to prevent forest fires from being started in a context where hot weather caused an “extreme” risk of fire.

The ban on open fires has been lifted in the regions of Capitale-Nationale, Chaudière-Appalaches, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Outaouais, Laurentides, Lanaudière and Mauricie which were affected by the initial notice.

The ban is maintained for the affected sectors of Nord-du-Québec, Côte-Nord, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie.

In the sectors concerned, it is therefore still prohibited to light an open fire – which is defined as “any fire burning freely or which could spread freely” – in a forest or near a forest, under penalty of a fine that could range from $500 to $50,000.

Campfires, fireworks and the use of instruments that can produce sparks are prohibited. Fires lit in installations provided for this purpose, which are equipped with spark arresters, are still permitted.

According to the Society for the Protection of Forests Against Fire (SOPFEU), a lightning front that occurred on Wednesday afternoon ignited new fires in the Côte-Nord and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean regions.

Active forest fires

Saturday morning, 15 forest fires were active in Quebec, particularly in the Haute-Côte-Nord. They were mostly controlled or contained.

Since the start of the season, 173 forest fires have destroyed 1,730 hectares. The average for the last ten years at the same date is 229 fires.