Update May 15, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
On May 14, thousands of people had to evacuate the Wood Buffalo Municipal Area in Alberta due to the fires. The smoke is likely to be felt as far away as Quebec in the coming days, so here’s what to know.
According to CBC, this Tuesday, May 14, in Alberta, thousands of people were evacuated in Fort McMurray. He was ordered to leave the premises at 4 p.m. for security reasons in several neighborhoods: Beacon Hill, Abasand, Prairie Creek and Grayling Terrace.
In this area, the fires extend over an area of 209 square kilometers, eight kilometers southwest of Fort McMurray.
Note that the city has more than 68,000 inhabitants and that an investigation is underway to understand the causes of this fire.
Smoke coming all the way to Quebec
If you’re wondering why the sky appears hazy in some areas, know that it’s due to a light layer of smoke that has moved from west to east across the country. It is currently stationed at altitude in southern Quebec.
“If the smoke reaches the surface, it is possible that there will be an impact on air quality,” explains Kevin Cloutier, meteorologist.
Quebec under surveillance
For the moment, the province is relatively spared from fires due to humid weather. However, according to SOPFEU, several regions of Quebec are already at high risk of fires. As of May 15, Montreal, Maskinongé-Les Chenaux, St-Maurice – Mastigouche, the Laurentians, Outaouais-Labelle and eastern Abitibi are the sectors concerned.
