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Quebec's forests are relatively calm, firefighters are helping other provinces

Since the beginning of the season, SOPFEU has fought 311 fires that have affected 232 hectares of forest.

Article authors:

La Presse Canadienne

La Presse Canadienne

Katrine Desautels and Martin Leblanc

Helicopters drop water on the Christie Mountain wildfire along Skaha Lake in Penticton, B.C. on Friday, Aug. 21, 2020.
Helicopter lands on Mount Christie wildfires along Lake Skaha Penticton, BC Photo by JONATHAN HAYWARD /THE CANADIAN PRESS

During wildfire season, the province sends equipment and personnel to other Canadian provinces to assist in their efforts.

Stéphane Caron, coordinator of the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU), said the organization would allow other provinces to work without affecting their ability to intervene. said it can support area.

"At the beginning of May, we had many fires over a two-week period, but when we exclude that period, we see far fewer fires than we are used to." he says Caron. explained.

Since the beginning of the season, SOPFEU has fought 311 fires affecting 232 hectares of forest. In an average season, there are 390 fires burning 18,759 hectares of forest.

"The weather is really on our side," Caron said. Regular rainfall keeps combustibles on the ground wet.

Quebec's wildfire season is at its most intense from spring through mid-July, but fires can occur until the end of October.

SOPFEU has stated that two water bombers, one support aircraft and their crews will be sent to Newfoundland and Labrador and will remain there for an indeterminate period of time. increase. The group has also deployed about 60 firefighters to Alberta and heliport management specialists to British Columbia.

According to Callon, the number of wildfires in Quebec has declined overall, averaging 12 fewer fires each year. He attributes this trend to increased public awareness, prevention efforts by SOPFEU and municipal firefighters, and improved regulations over the years.

His three-quarters of forest fires are caused by human intervention, he said, Mr Caron.

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