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 enlargement 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 certain sectors of Bas-Saint-Laurent, Capitale-Nationale, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Mauricie and Abitibi-Témiscamingue, the measure will change starting on May 10 at 8:00 a.m.

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

 SAGUENAY–LAC-SAINT-JEAN : Le Domaine-du-Roy (91) [excluant sa portion de territoires non organisés (TNO)], Maria-Chapdelaine (92) [excluant sa portion de territoires non organisés (TNO)], Lac-Saint-Jean-Est (93), Saguenay (941), Le Fjord-du-Saguenay (942) [excluant sa portion de territoires non organisés (TNO)].

 ABITIBI-TÉMISCAMINGUE : Témiscamingue (85), Rouyn-Noranda (86).

 MAURICIE : Mékinac (35), Shawinigan (36), Trois-Rivières (371), Les Chenaux (372), Maskinongé (51), La Tuque (90) pour sa portion au sud de la latitude 48⁰.

 CAPITALE-NATIONALE : Charlevoix (16) [excluant sa portion de territoires non organisés (TNO)], L’Île-d’Orléans (20), La Côte-de-Beaupré (21) [excluant sa portion de territoires non organisés (TNO)], Québec (23), Portneuf (34).

 BAS-SAINT-LAURENT : Rimouski-Neigette (10), Les Basques (11), Rivière-du-Loup (12), Témiscouata (13), Kamouraska (14).

 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), Lévis (251), La Nouvelle-Beauce (26), Robert-Cliche (27), Les Etchemins (28), Beauce-Sartigan (29), Les Appalaches (31), Lotbinière (33).

 CENTRE-DU-QUÉBEC : L’Érable (32), Bécancour (38), Arthabaska (39), Drummond (49), Nicolet-Yamaska (50).

 MONTÉRÉGIE : Acton (48), Pierre-De Saurel (53), Les Maskoutains (54), Rouville (55), Le Haut-Richelieu (56), La Vallée-du-Richelieu (57), Longueuil (58), Marguerite-D’Youville (59), Roussillon (67), Les Jardins-de-Napierville (68), Le Haut-Saint-Laurent (69), Beauharnois-Salaberry (70), Vaudreuil-Soulanges (71).

 ESTRIE : Le Granit (30), Les Sources (40), Le Haut-Saint-François (41), Le Val-Saint-François (42), Sherbrooke (43), Coaticook (44), Memphrémagog (45), Brome-Missisquoi (46), La Haute-Yamaska (47).

LAVAL : Laval (65).

 MONTRÉAL : Montréal (66). 

To view the map of the affected territory, go to: https://sopfeu.qc.ca/en/

There are currently 12 fires in activity in Québec. Since the start of the protection season, 138 forest fires have affected 114,2 hectares. The average for the last 10 years at this time of the year is 102 fires for an area of 82,4 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.