The ministry made the announcement in a press release on Monday and the changes came into force on Monday at 12 p.m.
The decision was taken in collaboration with the Society for the Protection of Forests Against Fire (SOPFEU) “due to weather conditions bringing rain to Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie.”
The day before, the ministry had announced an expansion of the prohibition zone in the regions of Nord-du-Québec, on the Côte-Nord, and in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. These three regions are still affected by the ban on open fires.
In the sectors concerned, it is therefore still prohibited to light an open fire – which SOPFEU defines on its website as “any fire burning freely or which could spread freely” – in a forest or near a forest, under penalty of a fine ranging from $500 to $50,000.
“Pyrotechnic elements (fireworks), instruments producing flames or sparks (welding instruments) are examples of open fires.”
Active forest fires
Early Monday afternoon, seven forest fires were active in Quebec in the massive protection zone.
Since the start of the season, 173 forest fires have destroyed 14,279.5 hectares. The average for the last ten years on the same date is 229 fires for 113,531.3 hectares burned.
Here is the precise list of sectors which are still affected by the ban on open fires:
- NORTHERN QUEBEC: Jamésie (south of latitude 54°), Eeyou Istchee (in the Waswanipi, Mistissini, Oujé-Bougoumou, Chisasibi, Eastmain, Nemiscau, Waskaganish, Wemindji sectors).
- NORTH COAST: Haute-Côte-Nord, Manicouagan, Sept-Rivières, Caniapiscau (south of latitude 54°), Minganie, Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent.
- SAGUENAY–LAC-SAINT-JEAN: Le Domaine-du-Roy (north of latitude 49°), Maria-Chapdelaine (north of latitude 49°), Le Fjord-du-Saguenay (north of the Saguenay River ).
