Forest fires continue to rage in Quebec. Nearly 10,000 people will have to be evacuated to Sept-Îles, where a state of emergency was declared Friday morning. In Chapais, in Nord-du-Québec, 1,000 citizens are evacuated, said the Minister of Public Security, François Bonnardel.
“The low temperatures (and) the rain this morning in Sept-Îles helped a little. The situation is under control for the moment, ”said Mr. Bonnardel.
Prime Minister François Legault for his part affirmed “to follow the situation very closely”. “No need to tell you that I recommend and I ask all Quebecers not to go into the forest, and when you are asked to evacuate, to agree to follow the instructions,” said Mr. Legault.
The mayor of Sept-Îles, Steve Beaupré, announced the state of emergency at a press conference on Friday morning. The Lac Daigle sector began to be evacuated in the morning, and residents of sectors east of the municipality’s downtown area will have to leave their homes by 4 p.m. the same day.
An emergency accommodation center will be opened in Port-Cartier for those who are unable to stay with relatives.
“We are talking about 2,000 (to) 3,000 people who currently need accommodation,” said the Minister of Public Security, saying that the civil security teams are in contact with the Red Cross.
“We continue to follow the evolution from hour to hour,” said Steeve Beaupré, inviting the population to stay informed of developments, while other measures could be announced during the day on Friday.
1,500 Innu evacuated to Mani-utenam
The Innu community of Uashat mak Mani-utenam, located near Sept-Îles, will also be evacuated by 5 p.m. Friday. “Mani-utenam has just over 500 residences and 1,500 residents,” said community leader Mike Pelash McKenzie, who stressed that authorities will monitor community residences during the state of emergency.
McKenzie said the community of Pessamit has agreed to house the evacuees.
The Society for the Protection of Forests against Fire (SOPFEU) indicates that it is fires 172 and 215 that threaten Sept-Îles, and that “field work” is being carried out to limit their spread. Tank truck missions will also be set up, mentioned Isabelle Gariépy, from SOPFEU.
François Bonnardel said that 107 fires were active Friday morning across Quebec. “We are prioritizing 20 of these fires to protect the population, our Hydro-Québec infrastructure. We repatriated all the staff of SOPFEU. Nearly 400 people are on the ground,” said the minister.
Logging companies had not carried out any work in the forest since the beginning of the week. The Minister of Natural Resources and Forests, Maïté Blanchette Vézina, announced Friday that it is now prohibited for citizens of seven zones to carry out activities in the forest. Among these sectors are the Côte-Nord and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, said the minister, saying that detailed maps will be published later in the day.
The Quebec government has also called on the help of other countries, namely the United States, Portugal and Mexico, to control the forest fires, said Ms. Blanchette Vézina.
A “decisive” day in Chapais
Friday promises to be “decisive” in controlling the fire threatening the municipality of Chapais, mentioned its mayor, Isabelle Lessard, at a press conference in the morning.
A second press conference will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, where it will be announced whether the evacuated residents will be able to return to their homes or not. Ms. Lessard recalled that fire remains an “invisible enemy”.
“You don’t see the fire right now from the city, you don’t see any smoke either, but that’s not because it’s not there anymore,” she said.
