Ban on open fires in or near the forest for the Pontiac
Ban on open fires in or near the forest for the Pontiac
The Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks has decided to ban open fires in or near the forest, due to the conditions currently prevailing. This decision, taken in collaboration with the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU), therefore entails a ban that comes into force as of June 9 at 8 a.m.
The sectors targeted by this measure correspond to the following MRCs and territories:
NORD-DU-QUÉBEC: Jamésie (991) – south of latitude 51o, Eeyou Istchee (Waswanipi,
Mistissini, Oujé-Bougoumou) (993).
CÔTE-NORD: Haute-Côte-Nord (95), Manicouagan (96) and Sept-Rivières (971) – south of
latitude 51o.
SAGUENAY – LAC-SAINT-JEAN: Le Domaine-du-Roy (91), Maria-Chapdelaine (92) – to the south
from latitude 51o, Lac-Saint-Jean-Est (93), Saguenay (941), Le Fjord-du-Saguenay (942) – south of latitude 51o.
ABITIBI-TÉMISCAMINGUE: Témiscamingue (85) – north of latitude 47o, Rouyn-Noranda (86), Abitibi-Ouest (87), Abitibi (88), La Vallée-de-L’Or (89).
MAURICIE: Mékinac (35) – north of latitude 47o, La Tuque (90).
CAPITALE-NATIONALE: Charlevoix-Est (15), Charlevoix (16), and La Côte-de-Beaupré (21), La Jacques-Cartier (22), Portneuf (34) – north of latitude 47o.
BAS-SAINT-LAURENT: La Matapédia (07), La Matanie (08), La Mitis (09), Rimouski-Neigette
(10), Les Basques (11), Rivière-du-Loup (12), Témiscouata (13), Kamouraska (14).
GASPÉSIE – ÎLES-DE-LA-MADELEINE: Le Rocher-Percé (02), La Côte-de-Gaspé (03), La
Haute-Gaspésie (04), Bonaventure (05), Avignon (06).
OUTAOUAIS: La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau (83) and Pontiac (84).
LAURENTIDES: Antoine-Labelle (79) – north of latitude 47o.
LANAUDIÈRE: Matawinie (62) – north of latitude 47o.
CHAUDIÈRE-APPALACHES: L’Islet (17), Montmagny (18), Bellechasse (19), Les Etchemins
(28).
To consult the map of the territory concerned, go to: www.sopfeu.qc.ca
Currently, 14 fires are active in Quebec. Since the start of the protection season, 318 forest fires have affected 1,288.3 hectares. The average of the last ten years at the same date is 186 fires for an area of 3,404.4 hectares. The collaboration of all is essential so that the ban on open fires in the forest is respected. The purpose of this measure is to limit the risk of forest fires.
It should be remembered that under article 239 of the Act respecting the sustainable development of forest land (chapter A-18.1), anyone who contravenes an order prohibiting open-air fires in or near the forest. – here or any other measure rendered by the Minister is liable, in addition to the payment of costs, to a fine.