Sopfeu is facing a forest fire season earlier than last year. After last year’s major fires near Sept-Îles, the organization slightly increased its staff and consolidated its partnerships to combat the blazes and raise awareness among the population.
The Haute-Côte-Nord experienced a few forest fires in April this year. If in spring the majority of fires generally occur further south in the province, regions further north such as Abitibi and the North Shore were not completely spared during the month of April. This is explained by the early disappearance of the snow cover across the entire territory.
Humans are responsible for 80% of forest fires, but prevention is also done through industries, assures Sopfeu spokesperson for the North Shore Isabelle Gariépy.
Sopfeu met with its municipal partners on the North Shore before the start of the season to refine the response plan in the event of an evacuation. Fire danger index reports have been published daily by the company for a month already.
Let’s avoid avoidable fires
In Quebec in April, a slightly above average number of fires was fought. The Society for the Protection of Forests against Fire recorded 52 vegetation fires, while the average over the last ten years is 42.4 fires. Note also that all of the fires recorded so far this year have been caused by human activity.
The burning of plant waste carried out during spring cleaning of land is responsible for several fires. SOPFEU notes that many citizens underestimate the risk associated with burning waste. The protection organization instead recommends safe and ecological alternatives, such as composting, the collection of green waste and the deposit of residual materials at the ecocenter.
A week ago, Sopfeu launched the largest advertising campaign in its history. She invites the population to be extra vigilant in the days and weeks to come in order to “avoid avoidable fires”.
