A Unique Organization
Unique Organization)
A Unique Organization in North America
SOPFEU is a non-profit organization established under Part III of the Companies Act. It was created in 1994 through a partnership between the Gouvernement du Québec and the forestry industry to serve as the government's operational arm in wildfire prevention, detection, and suppression. It emerged from the unification of seven regional conservation corporations that had been responsible for forest protection since 1972.
Unlike other wildfire protection agencies, SOPFEU is neither a private company nor a government entity. This unique model in North America provides significant agility and enables the organization to deliver high-quality, efficient services.
As outlined in its General Regulations, SOPFEU is governed by its general assembly of members and a board of directors composed of three representatives from the forestry industry, three government-appointed administrators, and three independent external administrators. Day-to-day management is overseen by a 13-member executive committee.
SOPFEU membership includes forestry industry stakeholders or organizations holding a wood supply guarantee or permit to harvest timber for processing, private forest owners with at least 800 hectares of contiguous land, and the Ministère de la Sécurité publique.
Designated by the Government of Québec
Historically, forest fire protection fell under the jurisdiction of the ministry responsible for forestry. However, as of January 1, 2025, SOPFEU’s mission has been transferred to the jurisdiction of the ministère de la Sécurité publique (MSP).
SOPFEU is now the sole organization designated by the ministère de la Sécurité publique for wildfire protection under Section 150.1 of the Fire Safety Act.
Under this law, SOPFEU is responsible for organizing the protection of communities, strategic infrastructure, and forested areas against wildfires within its designated territory. It operates in alignment with the policies and directives jointly issued by the ministère de la Sécurité publique and the ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts.
To fulfill its mandate, SOPFEU develops a wildfire protection plan for its designated territory. This plan outlines the intensive protection zone and specifies the personnel, equipment, and resources allocated to safeguarding communities, infrastructure, and forests from wildfires.
Funding
Until 2018, SOPFEU’s funding was provided by both the gouvernement du Québec and its members, including the forestry industry.
The gouvernement du Québec now fully covers the costs incurred by the designated organization for wildfire suppression within the intensive protection zone. These funds come from the consolidated revenue fund. Additionally, through annual parliamentary appropriations, the ministère de la Sécurité publique allocates funding to SOPFEU for other activities related to its mandate.
In northern regions, SOPFEU’s operations are funded by partners, including the gouvernement du Québec, Hydro-Québec, and Indigenous Services Canada.
SOPFEU also generates independent revenue by providing services to third parties, including missions outside Québec.
For consultation of the organization's annual reports
During the 2024 season, SOPFEU fought 352 wildfires, with a total of 13,884 hectares of forest burned. This represents 110 fewer fires than the ten-year average of 452 wildfires per season in the intensive protection zone (ZPI).
SOPFEU's annual report is published in French only.
The year 2023 marks a historic milestone in the history of Quebec’s forests. During the season, 566 fires burned nearly 1.1 million hectares (ha) in the Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ), while 147 fires ravaged more than 3.2 million ha in the Northern Zone. This amounts to a total of 4.3 million ha, the highest recorded in the province in the last century. Moreover, 99.9% of the burned area this year was caused by lightning, and the total area burned in 2023 exceeds the combined total of the last 20 years, regardless of the cause.
SOPFEU's annual report is published in French only.
Quebec’s forests were largely spared from wildfires this year. In the 2022 season, only 300.1 hectares of forest were affected, making it one of the smallest burned areas since comparable statistical data has been available. Since 1984, only 2004 (258.4 ha) and 2008 (132.7 ha) had similar or lower burn areas.
SOPFEU's annual report is published in French only.
During the 2021 season, 600 wildfires were fought in the Intensive Protection Zone, affecting 6,995.9 ha of forest. While the number of fires was significantly above the 10-year average (443 fires), the burned area remained well below the average of 18,390 ha.
SOPFEU's annual report is published in French only.
During the 2020 season, SOPFEU fought 663 wildfires that affected 52,469.3 hectares of forest in the intensive protection zone (ZPI). These figures exceed the ten-year average of 447 wildfires and 35,479.2 hectares burned. The high number of fires was mainly due to a warmer and drier spring, which created ideal conditions for vegetation fires to ignite. However, the summer was relatively calmer, with a number of fires closer to the average.
SOPFEU's annual report is published in French only.
The 2019 fire protection season ended with 324 wildfires fought in the intensive protection zone, compared to an annual average of 459 fires.
The burned areas also remained below average, with 5,163 hectares affected compared to the ten-year average of 36,929 hectares.
SOPFEU's annual report is published in French only.