Port-Cartier municipal authorities provided an update Saturday morning on the forest fires which forced the evacuation of 1,000 residents Friday evening.
The general director of the city, Nicolas Mayrand, affirmed that “the situation is the same” as the day before. “It’s the status quo, nothing has changed,” he declared at a press conference.
The mayor of Port-Cartier, Alain Thibault, declared a state of emergency for a period of five days since the fire is “out of control and quite close to the infrastructure” of the city.
Present at the press conference, the MP for the Duplessis constituency, Kateri Champagne-Jourdain, announced that the Quebec government would offer the same financial assistance as last year, up to $1,500 for each primary residence evacuated. .
“The government will continue to be there for you. We will provide the same support as last year,” she promised, adding that she remains in “constant contact” with the Minister of Public Security, François Bonnardel, and the Minister of Natural Resources and Forests. , Maïté Blanchette Vézina, in order to follow “the situation very closely”.
” Thanks for your help. You are in good hands. Your safety is our priority,” assured M.me Champagne-Jourdain.
The mayor also thanked citizens for their quick response. “Everything was done quickly and efficiently. Everything went well. There was no major accident,” he said.
“Everyone is doing well and in perfect health,” added Mr. Mayrand.
The fire is currently 13 kilometers from Port-Cartier, as was the case Friday evening.
“Despite the winds, the fire has not progressed since last night,” confirmed the director of the Port-Cartier Fire Safety Service, David Lamarre.
He specified that the “extremely violent and threatening” fire north of the Port-Cartier penitentiary was reported around noon Friday. It subsequently grew in size, approaching 17 to 13 kilometers from the city. Fortunately for residents, the blaze did not spread further in the following hours.
Around twenty municipal firefighters were deployed on the ground to help specialists from the Society for the Protection of Forests Against Fire (SOPFEU).
Mr. Lamarre also recalled the importance of not traveling in the forest and not making open fires.
The Sûreté du Québec sent the same message. “The police are raising awareness among the population of the importance of not making open fires and not venturing into the forest. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests has issued bans on being in the forest in areas near Sept-Îles and Port-Cartier. Police officers ensure that the bans in force are respected,” underlined information officer Élizabeth Marquis-Guy in an interview with The Canadian Press.
The approximately 1,000 people evacuated live in the areas of Brunel Park, Dominique Park and north of Route 138.
A temporary accommodation center was set up in Baie-Comeau, about two hours away, to accommodate them.
In waiting mode
If another evacuation is necessary, residents of the affected areas will receive a “pre-alert,” said Mr. Mayrand. “We are in constant communication with SOPFEU. Everyone is waiting for what happens next. »
To stay informed of future developments, he invited the population to register on the information line set up by the City and to be on the lookout for publications on social networks.
The authorities of the Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) of the North Shore are also on the lookout. “We are monitoring the situation closely. The entire CISSS de la Côte-Nord is mobilized,” said Lucie Cormier, health promotion and prevention coordinator at the Public Health Directorate of the Côte-Nord.
She called on citizens to limit their outdoor activities and to pay attention to the air quality inside their homes.
“Poor air quality and plumes of smoke can have impacts on health, particularly among people at risk such as babies, the elderly, pregnant women and other more vulnerable populations. »