Lightning responsible for an exceptional number of fires
Lightning responsible for an exceptional number of fires
July was a particularly busy month for the teams at the Quebec Forest Fire Protection Agency (SOPFEU), as an exceptional number of lightning strikes triggered a surge in forest fires across Quebec.
In the intensive protection zone, 90 forest fires were recorded in July, compared to an average of 66 fires over the past ten years for the same period. These fires burned 1,675 hectares of forest.
Lightning was responsible for 41% of the fires recorded, a phenomenon directly linked to unusually high thunderstorm activity. A total of 243,363 lightning strikes were recorded in Quebec during the month, nearly three times the average of the past seven years. July 14 alone shattered a record with more than 91,000 lightning strikes.
The hardest-hit regions were Northern Quebec, with 22 fires, Abitibi-Témiscamingue with 16, the North Shore with 11, and the Outaouais with 10.
Weather conditions complicated the work of forest firefighters. Slightly above-normal temperatures, a lack of precipitation in several areas, and sometimes strong winds contributed to the spread of the flames.
SOPFEU (Quebec’s forest fire prevention agency) reminds the public, however, that human behavior remains a significant cause of fires. Improperly extinguished campfires account for 16% of the recorded causes, followed by forestry and industrial activities at 12%.
Three fires particularly mobilized teams in July, including one northwest of the La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve, another near La Sarre threatening the Casa Berardi mine, and a fire northwest of Matagami that burned more than 20 kilometers in a single day.
In the northern zone, the situation also required significant mobilization. Forty-five new fires, all caused by lightning, burned more than 16,000 hectares of forest. Several communities and strategic infrastructure were monitored, notably near Fermont, Waskaganish, and Chisasibi.
At the height of operations, nearly 1,000 people participated in the response. SOPFEU received support from forest firefighters from several Canadian provinces, the United States, and even France.
By the end of July, the situation had returned to control in Quebec. SOPFEU was also able to lend a hand to British Columbia by sending water bombers and specialized teams.
