The Port-Cartier penitentiary was evacuated on Saturday due to forest fires raging near the city.
Published at 11:49 a.m.
The 225 inmates were transferred to other secure federal correctional facilities, Correctional Service Canada confirmed Sunday.
An evacuation notice was issued Friday in several areas of Port-Cartier, on the North Shore. A forest fire had broken out a few kilometers north of the maximum security penitentiary, advancing rapidly toward the city.
“To carry out the evacuation, we have put in place measures, in collaboration with our partners, to maintain the safety of our staff, the public and the offenders in our custody,” the federal agency said in a press release. .
The City of Port-Cartier was to meet on Sunday morning with the Society for the Protection of Forests Against Fire (SOPFEU). A press briefing is planned for the beginning of the afternoon to take stock of the situation.
Environment Canada released a special air quality bulletin on Sunday morning for the Sept-Îles and Port-Cartier sectors.
The federal organization warns that “smoke from wildfires is causing or may cause poor air quality and reduced visibility” on Sunday.
Environment Canada recommends that people most likely to be affected by smoke reduce or postpone strenuous activities outdoors, and consult a doctor if they think they need assistance. People more vulnerable to smoke include the elderly, pregnant people, infants, young children and people with chronic health conditions.
The federal agency also suggests that the population limit the time spent outdoors and keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.
Nine forest fires are currently active in intensive zones, according to the SOPFEU count. Among them, five are located in the MRC of Sept-Rivières, where Port-Cartier is located. Two of them were described as “content” on the organization’s website, while the others were listed as “out of control.”
with The Canadian Press
