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

The Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts has decided to amend the ban on open fires in or in the vicinity of forests. This decision, taken in collaboration with the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU), involves the partial lifting of the measure on part of the territory. Given that weather conditions have changed in the regions concerned, the measure will be modified as of 8 a.m. on Monday, July 3.

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

NORD-DU-QUÉBEC : Jamésie (991) for its portion north of latitude 51°22’ AND for its portion south of latitude 49°10’ and west of longitude 79° 17’, as well as for its portions bounded by the following coordinates:

78° 39’ W 50° 28’ N

77° 43’ W 50° 28’ N

77° 43’ W 50° 06’ N

78° 39’ W 50° 06’ N

AND

77° 25’ W 49° 52’ N

76° 26’ W 49° 52’ N

76° 12’ W 49° 27’ N

75° 48’ W 49° 27’ N

75° 28’ W 49° 42’ N

75° 13’ W 49° 42’ N

74° 50’ W 49° 25’ N

74° 50’ W 49° 00’ N

77° 19’ W 49° 00’ N

77° 25’ W 49° 16’ N

AND

76° 42’ W 51° 22’ N

72° 21’ W 51° 22’ N

72° 21’ W 50° 53’ N

73° 52’ W 49° 58’ N

73° 54’ W 50° 02’ N

74° 35’ W 50° 02’ N

75° 21’ W 50° 29’ N

76° 42’ W 50° 29’ N

Eeyou Istchee (Waswanipi for its portion west of the line bounded by the following coordinates:76° 23’ W 49° 46’ N

76° 20’ W 49° 41’ N

Mistissini, Chisasibi, Eastmain, Nemiscau, Waskaganish for its portion north of latitude 51°22’, Wemindji) (993).

CÔTE-NORD: La Haute-Côte-Nord (95) for its portion south of latitude 50°, north of latitude 49° 25′ and west of longitude 69° 33′, Manicouagan (96) for its portion bounded by the following coordinates:

68° 56′ W 49° 47′ N

68° 25′ W 49° 47′ N

68° 25′ W 49° 28′ N

68° 56′ W 49° 28′ N

SAGUENAY–LAC-SAINT-JEAN: Le Domaine-du-Roy (91) for its portion north of the following coordinates :

73° 54’ W 50° 02’ N

73° 48’ W 49° 52’ N

73° 33’ W 49° 52’ N

Maria-Chapdelaine (92) for its portion north of the following coordinates :

72° 21’ W 50° 53’ N

72° 21’ W 50° 38’ N

73° 11’ W 50° 13’ N

73° 11’ W 49° 52’ N

73° 33’ W 49° 52’ N

Le Fjord-du-Saguenay (942) for its portion bounded to the east by longitude 70° 17′, to the north by latitude 49° 25′ and to the south by latitude 50°.

ABITIBI-TÉMISCAMINGUE: Abitibi-Ouest (87) for its portion north of latitude 48°54′ and west of longitude 79°17′, Abitibi (88) for its portion east of the line bounded by the following points :

77° 19’ W 49° 00’ N

77° 11’ W 48° 34’ N

La Vallée-de-l’Or (89) for its portion northeast of the following coordinates:

77° 11’ W 48° 34’ N

77° 04’ W 48° 13’ N

76° 02’ W 48° 13’ N

75° 31’ W 48° 29’ N

MAURICIE: La Tuque (90) for its portion within the following coordinates:

75° 31’ W 49° 00’ N

74° 50’ W 49° 00’ N

74° 50’ W 48° 51’ N

75° 31’ W 48° 29’ N

View the map of the affected territory

 There is (are) currently 68 fires in activity in Québec. Since the start of the protection season, 487 forest fires have affected 1 392 151 hectares. The average for the last 10 years at this time of the year is 276 fires for an area of 9 879 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.