Quebec Wildfire- Record-Breaking Wildfire Season in Canada

June 6, 2023: Quebec Wildfire, Quebec Premier François Legault seeks international support as the province battles over 160 forest fires. With around 480 wilderness firefighters on the ground, Quebec can only combat approximately 30 of these fires, as firefighters from other provinces are occupied with their own challenges. The fires have not claimed any lives, but firefighters were forced to retreat from Clova, a hamlet 325 kilometers northwest of Montreal. Unfortunately, the situation in Clova spiraled out of control, compelling authorities to allow the town to burn. All 36 residents have been evacuated.

Quebec’s wildfire prevention agency, SOPFEU, stated that the fire’s intensity in the area surpassed the capacity of water bombers, but efforts to protect the community continue. While no residences have been destroyed yet, some cottages may have burned.

Premier Legault revealed that 200 firefighters are en route from France and the United States. Quebec also discusses with Costa Rica, Portugal, and Chile to secure additional resources. Approximately 10,000 people have been displaced by the fires, primarily in the northwestern Abitibi region and the eastern Côte-Nord region. Returning home soon is unlikely for most evacuees due to rapidly changing winds and unpredictable weather patterns.

Concerns are now focused on the Abitibi region, where no rainfall is expected for the next five days. St-Lambert, a municipality along the Ontario border in Abitibi, declared a state of emergency and ordered its 200 residents to evacuate. The neighboring community of Normétal was evacuated earlier. Normétal and Lebel-sur-Quévillon are the two communities closely monitored by the government. Firefighters in Lebel-sur-Quévillon saved a pulp mill from a nearby fire, but another fire is approaching in a different direction.

Over 160 fires have been reported in Quebec, with 114 classified as out of control. Within Quebec’s “intensive protection fire zone,” which encompasses areas where fires are typically actively fought, over 173,000 hectares have burned this year. This figure surpasses the 10-year average of 247 hectares for the same period, as reported by SOPFEU.

The Côte-Nord region, northeast of Quebec City, is experiencing unprecedented fire activity. Kateri Champagne Jourdain, the minister responsible for the area, emphasized the need to let the firefighting teams progress in combating the fires, which directly threaten Sept-Îles, a city approximately seven kilometers away from one of the fires.

Canadian Armed Forces members, numbering 138, have arrived to support the province’s firefighters, with additional troops expected. Mayor Steeve Beaupré hoped the fire closest to Sept-Îles could be controlled with the soldiers’ aid and anticipated rainfall.

Due to the fires, smog warnings have been issued by Environment Canada across various regions of Quebec, including Montreal. The public health department of Montreal advised residents to stay indoors, close their windows, and minimize exposure to the smoke.