Smoke continues to billow from wildfires ravaging northern Quebec, causing widespread smog and grounding water bombers. As of Monday morning, there were 114 active fires in the province, with 29 of them considered out of control, according to a spokesperson for the forest fire prevention agency.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-SOPFEU, Genevieve Poirier
Nicolas Vigneault, the spokesperson, stated that the heavy smoke has significantly reduced visibility, impeding the operations of water bombers and helicopters. Safety is their top priority, so they are facing challenges due to the smoke. However, they are hopeful that heavy rain and wind in the affected areas will allow operations to resume normally in the coming days.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
While no immediate danger to towns has been reported, thousands of residents in Quebec have been forced to evacuate their homes. This includes the 2,000 residents of Lebel-sur-Quevillon, parts of Val-d’Or and Senneterre, as well as some Indigenous communities.
The Cree Nation of Mistissini has requested the evacuation of all remaining community members due to a fire threatening nearby Route 167.
“The dryness index is at its maximum of 100, and the fire intensity is extremely high,” stated a series of Facebook posts from the Cree community of Mistissini. The forest fire agency has been unable to gather images of the fire due to low visibility, making it difficult to track its progress. However, measures are being taken to protect the community, such as widening fire breaks, deploying water tankers to combat spot fires, and implementing sprinklers at the community’s entrance.
The Waswanipi Cree community also planned to evacuate 50 additional residents, including seniors, pregnant women, and infants under one year old, due to heavy smoke. In a video update, Chief Irene Neeposh urged residents to keep their children indoors, close all doors and windows, and wear properly fitting masks while outside. The dense smoke poses a significant health risk.
On a positive note, residents of Val-Paradis, Beaucanton, and Lac Pajegasque, three small communities near the Ontario border, were allowed to return home after being evacuated. The Atikamekw of Opitciwan, located about 600 kilometers north of Montreal, also announced that evacuated residents would be able to return on Tuesday.
Due to the poor air quality caused by fine particles in the air, Environment Canada issued smog warnings for many areas of Quebec, including Montreal and Quebec City. Additionally, special weather statements were issued for those same cities, predicting rainfall ranging from 20 to 40 millimeters, with thunderstorms potentially bringing over 50 mm of rain.
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