Call for caution

Due to the prevailing weather conditions, the SOPFEU is appealing to the population for caution in the sectors located in the north and east of the province. The regions specifically targeted are Côte-Nord, Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean, Nord-du-Québec and Abitibi. The next few days will continue to bring weather conditions that will increase the fire danger in these areas.

When SOPFEU launches a “call for caution”, this means that the weather indices predict that the conditions will not only be conducive to the outbreak of fires, but that they will also favour high intensity fires, which can spread quickly. SOPFEU is monitoring the situation very closely, as it anticipates the outbreak of several new fires in the coming days.

With the arrival of the weekend, recreational activities will be on the rise, which is why we must be extra vigilant. The SOPFEU reminds that it is not recommended to have open fires (campfires, burning of waste, etc.) when the fire danger varies from high to extreme or when winds are blowing at more than 20 km/h. For campfires, SOPFEU strongly recommends using a fireplace equipped with a spark arrestor with openings of a maximum size of one square centimeter. Note also that several municipalities have regulations concerning open fires. It is important to consult them before lighting a fire.

Currently, eight forest fires are active in the Intensive Protection Zone, and 66 fires are active in the Northern Zone. As the workload is currently high for SOPFEU, the organization asks the public to be extra careful in the forest or near the forest, in order to avoid avoidable fires so as not to overload its teams.