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 ban open fires in or in the vicinity of a forest because of the current conditions. This decision, taken in collaboration with the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU), therefore results in a ban that takes effect starting on June 9, at 8 a.m. 

 The areas 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) et 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) – north of latitude 47º, Rouyn-Noranda (86), Abitibi-Ouest (87), Abitibi (88), La Vallée-de-l’Or (89). 

 MAURICIE : Mékinac (35) – north of latitude 47º, La Tuque (90). 

 CAPITALE-NATIONALE : Charlevoix-Est (15), Charlevoix (16), et La Côte-de-Beaupré (21), La Jacques-Cartier (22), Portneuf (34) – north of latitude 47º. 

 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 : La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau (83) et Pontiac (84) – north of latitude 47º. 

 LAURENTIDES : Antoine-Labelle (79) – north of latitude 47º. 

 LANAUDIÈRE : Matawinie (62) – north of latitude 47º. 

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

To view the map of the affected territory, click here. 

There is (are) currently 14 fire(s) in activity in Québec. Since the start of the protection season, 318 forest fires have affected 1288,3 hectares. The average for the last 10 years at this time of the year is 186 fires for an area of 3404,4hectares. 

 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.