The rain that began to fall since Monday gives a “good” helping hand to the workforce fighting forest fires in the most critical sectors of Quebec, but not enough to put out the fires, warn the authorities.
Tuesday morning, the Society for the Protection of Forests against Fire (SOPFEU) reported 114 active fires, including 77 in the intensive zone. Of this last figure, 28 are considered uncontrolled.
SOPFEU is assessing the impact that the precipitation will have on the ground, which started in the North-West and should continue until Wednesday for certain regions.
“If the rain falls in sufficient quantity, it allows SOPFEU staff to intensify the work directly on the ground to work on the fires and prevent the fires from starting again once the dry weather returns,” said Katia Petit, Associate Deputy Minister and Government Coordinator for Civil Security, at a press briefing on Tuesday morning.
At his side, Julie Coupal, of SOPFEU, specified that the precipitation should make it possible to reduce the intensity of the fires and their spread. However, while areas have seen more sparse amounts, some of the fires could pick up in intensity due to a return to drier weather over the next few days, she said.
Ms. Coupal also warned that as a whole the task remains “colossal” and that the “fires are big”. This makes help from out of province or auxiliary combatants just as necessary.
Quebec will thus welcome a hundred South Korean firefighters as of July 2, confirmed Ms. Coupal. SOPFEU also requested an extension of the assistance offered by the Canadian Armed Forces.
A rotation of French firefighters is planned this week, and SOPFEU is awaiting responses concerning other requests for resources, in particular for the rotation of staff from abroad.
These external staff are very useful, argued Ms. Coupal, since they already have a framework.
In total, more than 1,300 responders are currently mobilized to fight forest fires in Quebec.
Patience for evacuees
In terms of evacuations, many people who have been forced to leave their homes will still have to take their troubles patiently. Of the roughly 4,400 evacuees at the moment, a “small part of them” could return home on Tuesday, Ms Petit said.
“It is still much too early to decide when the majority will be able to return there,” she added, specifying that sectors must be secured such as Route 113 which gives access to Lebel-sur-Quévillon, in Jamésie.
SOPFEU always prioritizes its interventions around fires that could threaten communities. Special efforts are targeting the fires in the Lebel-sur-Quévillon sectors, as well as Senneterre, Normétal, Lac Simon and Louvincourt, in Abitibi-Témiscamingue.
Chibougamau, Mistissini, Obedjiwan and Micoua are also on the list.
In Chibougameau, the municipal authorities indicated on social networks on Tuesday that the fires raging very close to the municipality had not known “no significant progression”.
SOPFEU indicated that it does not prioritize resort areas, such as camps and chalets.