Centre-du-Québec

With the arrival of cooler temperatures, many plants lose their foliage, wither, and become highly flammable. Just a few hours of sunlight are enough to dry out fallen leaves and other small fuels that accumulate on the ground.

It is therefore important to remain vigilant when using fire and to check the fire danger index before entering the forest.

In autumn, the risk of forest fires remains significant. Seasonal recreational activities such as closing cottages, hunting, or burning leaves and plant debris are, each year, the cause of around forty wildfires in Québec.

With the arrival of September, autumn is already making its presence felt. Vegetation, now fully mature and combined with higher relative humidity, helps reduce the risk of wildfire. Shorter days limit daily drying, while cooler temperatures and morning dew naturally moisten the vegetation.

Despite this lull, vigilance remains necessary. In the fall, the wildfire risk persists, as vegetation begins to wither and fallen leaves on the ground can quickly dry out under the effect of wind and sunlight. This dry fuel can ignite easily and feed surface fires.

Summer-like conditions are prevailing in the region. Under these conditions, surface fires (dead leaves, brush, etc.) are less common, as the greenery and leafing of trees and shrubs are now complete. However, any fires that may occur are likely to burn deeper and be more intense.

Leaf-out and the emergence of greenery are now well underway in several parts of the region, bringing summer-like conditions. As a result, surface fires (such as those involving dead leaves and brush) are already less frequent. However, any fires that do occur may burn deeper into the ground and be more intense.

Spring conditions are now well established in the region. As soon as the warm weather sets in, it’s important to remain vigilant. Dead vegetation—such as brush and fallen leaves—can dry out very quickly with just a bit of sun and wind, making it highly flammable.

With the snow cover now gone in Centre-du-Québec, spring conditions that favour vegetation fires are now present. SOPFEU has therefore begun publishing the Fire Danger Index in this region. As soon as the warmer weather arrives, we must stay alert. In the spring, dead vegetation (dry brush, fallen leaves, etc.) dries out very quickly with just a little sun and wind. It then becomes highly flammable.