Quebec Battles 12 Wildfires, All Small and Under Control

Quebec currently has 12 active wildfires, but officials say all of them are small and under control. The province’s forest fire-fighting agency, SOPFEU (Société de protection des forêts contre le feu), is keeping a close watch on the situation.

Causes of the Fires

Malanie Morin, a fire information officer with SOPFEU, explained that these fires have different causes. Some were caused by humans, while others were started by lightning. She said that storms and high temperatures have also contributed to the risk of fires in the province.

“The fires we are seeing now are normal for August in Quebec,” Morin said.

Size of the Fires

The wildfires are currently small, ranging from 0.4 hectares to 11 hectares. Morin added that the situation changes day by day because the amount of rain from storms is uncertain. “We are expecting rain in the next 24 to 48 hours, which may lower the fire risk temporarily,” she said.

Fire Danger Could Rise Again

However, Morin warned that if dry and hot weather returns, the fire danger rating will increase again. “Right now, we are hoping for the rain we are expecting over the next day or two,” she added.

Firefighting Efforts

Although SOPFEU sent some firefighters to help with wildfires in western Canada, Quebec has enough crews to handle fires in the province. The province also has water bombers ready in different locations to quickly respond to any fire.

“We have seen water bombers in action over the past few days. On Saturday, two water bombers helped fight a fire in southern Quebec. Yesterday, water bombers were used again near Tremblant,” said Morin.

Officials continue to monitor the wildfires closely, and residents are advised to stay alert. With careful preparation and expected rain, the situation in Quebec is under control for now.