The Rivière-du-Nord council, which met Tuesday in Bertrand, addressed a hot topic in every sense of the word: fires recently burned on a large peat field.
A citizen who lives not far from a peat bog operated by Gardenscape of Canada, in Grande-Anse, raised the issue during public interventions.
The recently completed summer of 2024 was excellent for the peat industry. However, the hot and dry weather has also increased the risk of fire which can occur when the harvested and stacked product begins to overheat.
Remember that the Grande-Anse peat bog is located on Crown land and is located a mile and a half (2.5 km) from the Acadian Historic Village, a major tourist attraction in the region.
André Sonier, the director general of Rivière-du-Nord, in response to the citizen’s concerns, indicated that he had discussed it that very morning with the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Several fires have broken out in this bog this year, but because the operating company has its own equipment and water reserves, it has been able to put them out.
Furthermore, no regulation requires it to report fires that may occur on its facilities.
“If there is a fire, they (Gardenscape) are not obligated to call Natural Resources or 911. So far, there have been three fires, but there have been more than that, because even at the end of the week they were on alert, but they managed the fire themselves.”
The general director of Rivière-du-Nord also spoke on this subject with Michel Landry, the fire chief of Grande-Anse, to find out what the local fire station planned to do if a peat fire one day became threatening.
“Of course, it would fight against the peat fire, but the priority would indeed be the (neighboring) residences, the Golden Age Club and so on,” said Mr. Sonier.
The citizen, who wondered out loud about the possible risks, would like measures to be recommended, starting with the maintenance of an old road which provided additional access to the peat bog in the event of a disaster.
“When Émile DeGrâce (the former manager) was there, they (the bog) had built a path back. I calculate that it’s been 30 years since they last maintained it.”
The mayor, Joseph Lanteigne, responded that the municipality would “follow up.”
Two peat bogs located near Rivière-du-Nord (at Black Rock and Pokeshaw) were also disturbed by flames this year. The general manager and advisor Colin
MacLellan, who is also fire chief, confirmed that the Grande-Anse and Saint-Léolin brigades had been called to intervene.
Mr. Sonier also recalled that his municipality had a second major peat bog on its territory. This one is located in Maisonnette.
