The City of Saint-Pascal reminds its residents, as well as its visitors, that it is prohibited to have open fires on its territory.
In recent days, the Intermunicipal Fire Safety Service has had to intervene twice to manage fires caused by negligent behavior. One of them, a major one, required the intervention of the Society for the Protection of Forests Against Fire (SOPFEU) on the Parc des Sept-Chutes trail.
The intermunicipal fire safety service of the City of Saint-Pascal applies regulations on open fires and the use of compliant outdoor fireplaces. In this regulation it is stipulated that “it is prohibited for any person to light, allow to be lit or otherwise allow a campfire to be lit without first obtaining a permit issued by the competent authority”.
According to SOPFEU, in Quebec, 80% of forest fires are caused by careless behavior, such as unsupervised campfires, cigarette butts or burning trash.
“I understand that the return of the summer makes you want to enjoy the outdoors, but it is important to adopt safe behaviors when you are in a forest environment, whether for hikes or other activities, but also on residential land. An accident quickly happens: a simple cigarette butt thrown in the wrong place can set an entire forest on fire. Let’s be vigilant, it’s our responsibility,” said the mayor of Saint-Pascal, Solange Morneau.
SOPFEU
SOPFEU has so far counted 70 fires throughout the province. At the KRTBs, the risk is considered “high”.
Remember that in the spring, the risk of forest fires is greater than it seems since it is in the spring that the majority of Quebec forest fires occur, particularly due to the loss of control over many waste burnings. initiated by residents.
Before foliage and greenery appear, ground fuel consists of wilted grass, dead leaves and dry brush, which are highly flammable. It only takes a few hours of sunshine and a little wind for dead vegetation to dry out quickly and the fire danger level to rise substantially. A fire can then spread over a good distance and threaten the forest as well as nearby buildings.
