The City of Sept-Îles is not in panic mode, nor in forest fire alert mode, but it has been active since Tuesday, and even more so today.
The mayor of Sept-Îles, Steeve Beaupré, met with various stakeholders this morning, including SOPFEU, Civil Security, Sûreté du Québec, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests and ITUM.
The authorities are following the evolution of the fire which is active in the Lac de la Montagne sector. “The winds could bring it towards Lac Daigle,” said Mr. Beaupré. For the other fire, he reports to Rio Tint IOC.
If four SOPFEU planes are already in operation on the first site, the mayor has asked for reinforcements to be sent. He also passed on his message to the minister responsible for the North Shore, Kateri Champagne Jourdain.
What could be worrying is if the fire is gaining ground and every hour it is getting closer to the city when it is currently 10 kilometers away.
The City of Sept-Îles has opened its emergency measures coordination center and its crisis unit to deal with all eventualities.
Mr. Beaupré reminded that vacationers around places affected by forest fires are invited to leave the area.
SOPFEU and the other stakeholders must go there with an update of the evolution at 3 p.m. “We are not in panic mode, nor to alert the population, but if we lose kilometers every hour, anything is possible,” said the mayor, who remains hopeful that the fire is under control. Evacuations are not ruled out.
Through the situation of the forest fires, the mayor also multiplies the meetings in connection with the closure of the Touzel bridge.
