One year after the evacuations due to forest fires, the citizens of Sept-Îles are very concerned about fire prevention. Reporting fires allows the City’s fire department to act promptly.
The Sept-Îles Fire Safety Department has already intervened eight times to put out fires since the beginning of spring.
Director Joël Sauvé notes that the intervention was facilitated by rapid reports from citizens, who acquired a reflex
according to him, after having suffered the repercussions of the fires last year.
It is a trauma, especially for those who were evacuated. The sooner we are on site, the less the fire grows and the less risk there is of it spreading.
Open in full screen mode
Joël Sauvé, director of fire safety, is also assistant coordinator for emergency measures. (Archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Lydianne Ouimet
This was the case two weeks ago. The fire in the Mani-utenam sector was brought under control quickly, despite its scale
he continues.
High risks
On Sunday, despite the rain that has fallen in recent days, the fire risks vary from high to very high over the majority of the Côte-Nord territory, according to the Society for the Protection of Forests Against Fire (SOPFEU).
Although the 2023 fire season has been called historic and it won’t happen every year, teams are preparing for any eventuality.
Open in full screen mode
Two forest fires are currently active in Quebec. This time last year, there were around 200.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Paul Fontaine
It only takes two consecutive weeks without rain, with strong sunshine, for us to have a situation that is close to that of last year.
warns Joël Sauvé.
No forest fires are active in the region, but the Sept-Îles Fire Safety Service is calling for caution after an early start to the season in April throughout Quebec.
Better equipped to act better
Several citizens who had to leave their homes when the evacuation notice was issued on June 2, 2023, told Radio-Canada that they were marked by these events.
This is the case of Raymond St-Onge, from Mani-utenam.
I think about it all the time, the fire. I even have trouble making it in my chalet.
Another resident, Penute Pilot, sees the situation with a rather pragmatic eye. Every year it burns. There are floods, increasingly intense tornadoes. Emergency pocket money and a survival kit should be prepared.
In the beach sector, Stéphanie Willard has also retained a certain fear. We don’t want to relive that this year, but my suitcases are not on the edge of the door. We live day by day.
Open in full screen mode
Penute Pilot believes that good preparation is important to deal with unforeseen circumstances.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Paul Fontaine
According to Joël Sauvé, the City has also learned lessons from last year and continues to deepen its collaboration with the SOPFEU.
It also implements risk mitigation measures, in particular to cool critical installations that could be threatened by a forest fire or to fortify emergency facilities around the drinking water plant.
Open in full screen mode
The Fire Safety Department of the City of Sept-Îles works in collaboration with SOPFEU. (Archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada
Sept-Îles and Port-Cartier also plan to equip their respective fire safety services, which work to support the SOPFEUequipment better suited to fighting forest fires.
Our daily protective equipment is too heavy to be dragged through the forest
says Joël Sauvé.
A joint training day to link up with the teams from the SOPFEU is also planned shortly.
According to information from Paul Fountain
