Quebec will have a lot to do to adapt to a probable increase in the number and intensity of forest fires in the years to come. It will be necessary not only to reflect on the development of territories vulnerable to fires, but also to better assess the risks they represent for the physical and mental health of Quebecers, affirm the experts consulted by The duty.
The Prime Minister, François Legault, himself acknowledged this week that “climate change leads to a need to invest in what we call adaptation”, citing as an example the possibility of improving the response capacity, and in particular the number of air tankers available to Quebec.
This increase in resources to tackle blazes is indeed essential, says Angelica Alberti-Dufort, adaptation specialist at the Ouranos consortium. But she emphasizes that the work ahead of us is vast. “With the scale of the fires that we are currently seeing, we understand that we are somewhat unaware of the most significant risks. There is still a lot of work. »
The expert cites as an example the necessary reflection on the development of the territory, and in particular of wooded areas, in regions vulnerable to forest fires. “It could be controlling combustible material, such as vegetation around municipalities, with protective measures that may include planting types of trees that are less flammable. This is the case with hardwoods such as maple or birch,” explains Ms.me Alberti-Dufort.
Professor in the geography department of UQAM and specialist in climate issues, Philippe Gachon, for his part, insists on the need to better anticipate the weather conditions that favor the burning of our vast forests. This year, for example, the lack of precipitation of the last few months and the high spring temperatures foreshadowed the possibility of an increase in fires.
“Knowing this, we could deploy resources according to the territories at risk, warn the authorities and the communities, quickly ban open fires and work to better educate the general public”, he argues, while welcoming the work carried out by the Society for the Protection of Forests against Fire (SOPFEU).
Damaged health
Even assuming that Quebec adopts a strategy for adapting the territory and that it modifies its forestry practices to reduce the risks, forest fires will be more and more present, in particular due to global warming.
In this context, it is essential to better understand the repercussions of these events on the physical and mental health of the citizens affected, insists the president of the Quebec Association of Physicians for the Environment (AQME), Claudel Pétrin-Desrosiers.
As for smog episodes that can result from fires, as we are seeing this year, the risk is very real, especially for populations whose health is already fragile. “There is an increase in mortality to be expected, compared to normal, during periods of smog,” she summarizes. “Even in good health, you can be affected,” adds Éric Lavigne, adjunct professor at the School of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Ottawa.
However, there are still gray areas. “Does the cumulative impacts of smog episodes, every year, increase the risk of cancer or certain diseases? We do not know. It’s possible, but we lack the information to assess the real risk,” said Ms.me Petrin-Desrosiers.
Quebec is also sailing blind when it comes to psychological repercussions. What are the consequences, for example, for citizens evacuated in an emergency, who fear the destruction of their homes, their communities or the loss of their jobs? “It is very poorly documented. But what we are beginning to document are fairly significant impacts,” insists the president of AQME.
For the national director of public health of Quebec, Luc Boileau, there is no doubt that citizens can suffer from it. “The anxiety and distress that comes with not knowing if your house will still be there are big stressors,” he says. “These are stressful events and it’s hard for people to prepare for them,” adds Dr.r Boileau, who believes that “public health must take this into account” by offering adequate support to these people.
Whose responsibility is it?
“Psychological support is not sufficient for this kind of event,” laments Mr. Gachon. “It is important during the events, but also afterwards, during recovery. When communities are affected, they can suffer the impacts for years. And they are major: depression, shock, etc. Mental health can be turned upside down. As an example, he cites the floods of recent years, but also the tragedy of Lac-Mégantic, or the ice storm crisis. “It can take at least 10 years to recover. »
The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) recognizes that it is necessary to prepare for the “uncertainties” attributable to global warming. It is specified that “work is in progress” in order to “document the future impact of climate change on the health of the population and on our health infrastructures”, with a view to developing “adaptation plans” over the next years.
However, the MSSS refused our request for an interview, inviting us to contact the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change. The latter invited us to contact the MSSS. On the federal government side, Environment and Climate Change Canada invited us to contact Health Canada, which referred us to the MSSS.
No matter who must take the initiative in the face of forest fires, the urgency is there. “We can’t wait any longer. The process of implementing adaptation measures must begin,” insists Angelica Alberti-Dufort, pointing out that countries like Australia have adopted action plans following major fires.
It remains to be seen what financial means will be devoted to it. Several experts, but also municipalities, have already deplored the lack of measures to adapt to the multiple effects of climate change in Quebec. Barely 10% of the amounts provided for in the Plan for a Green Economy are devoted to it.
With Zacharie Goudreault