“Police! Police! You must leave!”: The hundreds of residents of the southern part of Chapais and the surrounding area saw a beautiful sunny evening interrupted by the authorities who strongly suggested leaving their homes as soon as possible.
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“It felt like a movie,” says Maude Gamache, a resident of the Lake Cavan area, near where the fire has been raging since Wednesday evening. “We were having dinner and we saw the tanker planes coming to refuel in front of us. It was downright unreal.”
Panic in the house
The teacher was at work in Chapais when she saw the first signs of a forest fire a few kilometers from her home.
“We could see the flames, it was very intense. There was panic everywhere. Everyone was rushing to pick up their things. […] I decided to leave school with my children and then join my boyfriend at home.
Once there, M.me Gamache and his family were able to see the extent of the blaze. The emergency services then came to tell them that they had to leave the house for safety reasons.
“It was super worrying at first, admits the mother. Finally, we took the time to pack our bags and take valuables with us before leaving. However, we had to leave our animals behind.
Camping shelter
Like many residents of the region, Maude Gamache and her family have found refuge at the Opémiska campground, about 10 kilometers northwest of Chapais.
“We are in the woods, but we still feel much safer because we are far from the fire,” argues Mélissa Paquet, a trailer owner who left her home in Chapais to join the summer location which is allocated to him.
She and her three children were ready for any eventuality when the first information about a nearby fire reached them.
“We had packed our bags in advance, just in case. We had the choice between going to the campground or going to the Chibougamau arena. I told myself that we would sleep a lot better in our business and that we would give way to the arena to those who are really badly taken.
Mme Gamache also turned to camping when it came time to evacuate. She and her family found refuge with friends. They hope to be able to return to their home as soon as possible.
“We are not worried about the house for the moment, because the wind is pushing in the opposite direction. We hope that the situation will be under control before it turns!”
Suspicious fires?
According to the latest information released at a press briefing by the City of Chapais on Thursday, certain elements of the investigation by the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) suggest that the various fires “could be suspicious”.
“However, there is no confirmation yet that this is a criminal act. MRC investigators are working on the file,” said the City of Chapais.
Air tanker missions took place throughout the day yesterday on the northern flank of Lake Cavan to limit the spread.