The first CL-415 two planes for the 2012 season arrived last Friday at the Society for the Protection of forests against fire (SOPFEU) in Maniwaki. With 14 fires in March and 32 so far in April, the season begins intensely at the SOPFEU. Over 40.9 hectares of forest were destroyed, most started by residents. Of the 46 forest fires in Quebec since the beginning of the season, 23 were controlled by firefighters from the base of Maniwaki. They put out 16.7 hectares of burning forest. It should be noted that March 2012 was the most active for fires in over 20 years.

The Outaouais region has been the most affected region with 15 fires in Quebec and 15.2 hectares of forest burned. This number is significant because the average in the Outaouais last decade at the same time is only 1.1 hectare. Loss of control of burning grass and trash and cigarette butts left smoldering behind is the cause of the vast majority of these fires. Unfortunately, 100% of acres burned could have been avoided with a little vigilance.