Open fires banned in Côte-Nord and Gaspésie
Posted July 29, 2024 4:34 pm.
A prolonged heat wave expected this week in Quebec has prompted the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to ban open fires in or near forests in certain areas of the Côte-Nord and Gaspésie regions.
On the Côte-Nord, the ban, which came into effect 8 a.m. Monday morning, covers the Haute-Côte-Nord, Manicouagan, Sept-Rivières, Caniapiscau, Minganie, Anticosti Island and Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent regions.
In Gaspésie, it applies to the Rocher-Percé, Côte-de-Gaspé, Haute-Gaspésie and Bonaventure.
In concerned areas, it’s forbidden to light an open fire – defined as “any fire that burns freely or could spread freely” – in or near a forest, with fines ranging between $500 and $50,000.
Campfires, fireworks, and the use of instruments capable of producing flames are prohibited. Fires lit in special facilities equipped with spark arrestors are still permitted.
According to Environment Canada, a warm, humid air mass is currently affecting Quebec. The mercury will be high early in the week week, and despite a lull on Wednesday thanks to showers, the heat will return on Thursday and could persist until Friday.
On Monday, the risk of a fire seemed to be “extreme” in a large part of eastern Quebec.
The Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU) issued its own statement on Saturday, claiming that despite many Quebecers currently on vacation, “vigilance should not take a holiday.”
“SOPFEU is monitoring the situation very closely, as it anticipates several new fires breaking out over the next few days,” it warned.
Currently, there are five fires in SOPFEU’s intensive protection zone, in addition to 34 others in the northern zone.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
