The first forest fire of the year sparked on Wednesday at the end of the day in Sutton, Estrie, before being quickly mastered, marking the start of the brazier season in Quebec.
Posted at 4:30 p.m.
“It is a campfall left unattended that has spread to the forest”, in the Mont Écho sector, explained to The press Marc-Antoine Fortier, deputy director of the city’s public security and fire service.
This fire illustrates the problem of spring fires, explains Josée Poitras, agent at the prevention and communications of the forest protection company against fire (SOPFEU).
“In southern Quebec, the fires remain relatively small, but they can damage neuralgic infrastructure”, such as pumping stations or electrical transmission stations, “she illustrates.
It is in the spring that the majority of Quebec forest fires arise, recalls the Sopfeu, which calls for vigilance on the eve of Easter leave.
-The practice of land cleaning fires and scoring burning causes on average 75 fires affecting the forest each year, because dead leaves and dry brush on the ground are a highly flammable fuel at this time of year which allows a fire to spread quickly in regions where the snow cover has disappeared.
Late season
The start of the forest fire season later occurs that this year, this year, since Quebec had an average of 17 forest fires on the past 10 years, Sopfeu said.
“We know a late spring”, which has left the ground wet or snow covered longer than in the past years, explains Josée Poitras.
But the situation can change quickly, since it is only enough for a few hours of sunshine and a little wind for the dead vegetation dries up and that the danger of fire climbs significantly, warns the sopfeu.
Municipal firefighters and forest firefighters work on average on 275 fires affecting the forest in the spring only, in Quebec.
As soon as a fire affects a forest, even on a small area, it is considered a forest fire by the sopfeu.
