Change to the Ban on Open-Air Fires in Forests or Nearby Areas

Change to the Ban on Open-Air Fires in Forests or Nearby Areas

Modification of the Ban on Open-Air Fires in Forests or Nearby Areas

The Ministry of Public Security is partially lifting the ban on open-air fires in forests or nearby areas due to rainfall received in recent hours. This decision was made in collaboration with SOPFEU (Société de protection des forêts contre le feu).

The open-air fire ban now applies to the following areas:

LANAUDIÈRE: L’Assomption (60), Montcalm (63), Les Moulins (64)
LAURENTIDES: Deux-Montagnes (72), Thérèse-De Blainville (73), Mirabel (74), La Rivière-du-Nord (75), Argenteuil (76), Les Pays-d’en-Haut (77), Les Laurentides (78), Antoine-Labelle (79)
MONTÉRÉGIE: Vaudreuil-Soulanges (71)
OUTAOUAIS: Papineau (80), Gatineau (81), Les Collines-de-l’Outaouais (82), La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau (83), Pontiac (84)

Since the start of the fire protection season, 454 forest fires have affected 1,198.3 hectares in intensive protection zones. Over the past 10 years, the average for the same period is 443 fires affecting 118,664.5 hectares.

The purpose of this ban is to reduce the risk of forest fires. Public cooperation is essential. Therefore, it is forbidden to ignite or maintain an open-air fire or to be present where such a fire is burning.

Under Section 155.1 of the Fire Safety Act, anyone who violates an order prohibiting open-air fires in or near a forest—or any other measure imposed by the Minister—may be subject to fines in addition to paying associated costs.

For information on current fire bans or forest fires, please visit the Québec government’s Forest Fire webpage and the website of the SOPFEU.