Amendment on the ban on open fires in or in the vicinity of a forest

The ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs has decided to amend the ban on open fires in or in the vicinity of a forest. This decision, taken in collaboration with the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU), therefore results in the modification of the area targeted by the ban on open fires in or in the vicinity of a forest. Given the evolution of the weather conditions in south, the measure will change starting on June 9, at 6 p.m.

The areas now affected by this measure are the following RCMs and territories:

NORD-DU-QUÉBEC : Jamésie (991) – south of latitude 51º, Eeyou Istchee (Waswanipi, Mistissini, Oujé-Bougoumou) (993).

CÔTE-NORD : La Haute-Côte-Nord (95), Manicouagan (96) and Sept-Rivières (971) – south of latitude 51º.

SAGUENAY–LAC-SAINT-JEAN : Le Domaine-du-Roy (91), Maria-Chapdelaine (92) – south of latitude 51º, Lac-Saint-Jean-Est (93), Saguenay (941), Le Fjord-du-Saguenay (942) – south of latitude 51º.

ABITIBI-TÉMISCAMINGUE : Témiscamingue (85), Rouyn-Noranda (86), Abitibi-Ouest (87), Abitibi (88), La Vallée-de-l’Or (89).

MAURICIE : Mékinac (35), Shawinigan (36), Trois-Rivières (371), Les Chenaux (372), Maskinongé (51), La Tuque (90).

CAPITALE-NATIONALE : Charlevoix-Est (15), Charlevoix (16), L’Île-d’Orléans (20), La Côte-de-Beaupré (21), La Jacques-Cartier (22), Québec (23), Portneuf (34).

BAS-SAINT-LAURENT : La Matapédia (07), La Matanie (08), La Mitis (09), Rimouski-Neigette (10), Les Basques (11), Rivière-du-Loup (12), Témiscouata (13), Kamouraska (14).

GASPÉSIE–ÎLES-DE-LA-MADELEINE : Le Rocher-Percé (02), La Côte-de-Gaspé (03), La Haute-Gaspésie (04), Bonaventure (05), Avignon (06).

OUTAOUAIS : Papineau (80), Gatineau (81), Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais (82), La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau (83), Pontiac (84).

LAURENTIDES : Deux-Montagnes (72), Thérèse-De Blainville (73), Mirabel (74), La Rivière-du-Nord (75), Argenteuil (76), Les Pays-d’en-Haut (77), Les Laurentides (78), Antoine-Labelle (79).

LANAUDIÈRE : D’Autray (52), L’Assomption (60), Joliette (61), Matawinie (62), Montcalm (63), Les Moulins (64).

CHAUDIÈRE-APPALACHES : L’Islet (17), Montmagny (18), Bellechasse (19), Les Etchemins (28).

The map of the affected territory, is available here.

There are currently 14 fires in activity in Québec. Since the start of the protection season, 323 forest fires have affected 2262,4 hectares. The average for the last 10 years at this time of the year is 189 fires for an area of 3448,4 hectares.

Everyone must collaborate to make sure that the ban on open fires in the forest is respected. This measure is intended to limit the risk of forest fires. Pursuant to section 239 of the Sustainable Forest Management Act (chapter A-18.1), any person who contravenes an order prohibiting open fires in or in the vicinity of a forest or any other action taken by the Minister is liable, in addition to the payment of the costs, to a fine.