Almost the size of Montérégie, the largest fire in Quebec’s history – more than a million hectares – is devastating the boreal forest east of James Bay.
Posted at 2:30 p.m.
While all eyes were on the storms and flooding in the province’s south, the largest fire in Quebec’s history burned north of the 49th parallel this week.
At 1,041,760 hectares – barely smaller than Lebanon – this fire is three times bigger than the one that made headlines in 2013.
This is the biggest fire that SOPFEU has ever registered, spokeswoman Mélanie Morin confirmed to La Presse. “In the statistics I have, going back to 1984, I can’t find a fire larger than a million hectares in the North Zone,” she explains.
“Unparalleled size,” “historic fire,” “the largest fire ever seen”: In 2013, superlatives were not lacking to describe the 350,000-acre fire, then just a few miles from the Cree community of Eastmain away burned.
Ten years later, the magnitude of this new fire – 218 – has gone almost unnoticed. Note that two SOPFEU relief workers were injured in that fire last Monday, the first time in 30 years, as reported by La Presse on Saturday.
“I’ve never seen that before”
A stifling drought in the north of the province and unusual heat have resulted in a season prone to wildfires.
The region east of James Bay gets an average of 80 millimeters of rain in 30 days during this time of year, from June 15 to July 15.
Félix Biron, meteorologist from Environment Canada, emphasizes that hardly 20 millimeters of rain were recorded this summer, in some places even 10 millimeters. “It’s very dry and that explains the historic magnitude of these wildfires,” he said.
Tourism entrepreneur Sylvain Paquin, who has lived there for 25 years, noticed a drought locally.
“Since early June I’ve been warning the world it’s dry,” he says over the phone. The fireweed shoots are drying upright, the grass has been yellow since early June, the caribou moss is cracking, the Labrador tea leaves are dry, the larches around camp are eating the slap, the hardwoods are losing their leaves… and it’s only the beginning of summer, says he. It is unusual!
Sylvain Paquin
PHOTO SUPPLIED BY SYLVAIN PAQUIN
“The caribou moss breaks,” observes Sylvain Paquin. This photo was taken on June 30, 2023.
An episode that, according to Mr Paquin, is much worse than it was ten years ago. “I have never seen so much drought. In 2013 it was hot and dry, but never like this. »
Radisson evacuates, Cree communities on high alert
Several more fires are threatening infrastructure and communities along James Bay. On Friday, Radisson’s approximately 200 residents received a mandatory evacuation notice by plane to Montreal.
In Chisasibi, the most populous community in north-du-Québec after Chibougamau, evacuation of people at risk from smoke from the fires began on Friday. Other Cree communities have also made progress. An emergency shelter was opened in Matagami to help the citizens.
“I’m not evacuating immediately, but I’m ready, my boxes are ready,” says Mr. Paquin. If all the frontline staff leave, I’m sure I’ll go too. »
SOPFEU does not fight fires in northern areas unless they threaten strategic infrastructure. The wind is driving the fires from north to northeast on Saturday, Morin said. A direction that distances them from communities in general.
SOPFEU’s priorities are protecting Radisson, particularly its airport, and the communities of Wemindji, Waskaganish and Eastmain, whose access roads are threatened by fire. SOPFEU is also trying to protect Relay 381 on Billy Diamond Street and ensure the supply of petrol to this vast area.
Rain and thunderstorms are imminent
Weak hope: Rain is expected from Saturday evening and in the next few days. However, rainfall amounts are uncertain, Environment Canada’s Biron said. And thunderstorms, i.e. lightning, could also ignite new fires.
“As meteorologists, we didn’t see many fires of this magnitude there,” he recalls. It’s really intense. »
According to Sylvain Paquin, it had already rained in Radisson in the early afternoon. Only lightning was recorded in the area where it is located 40 kilometers to the south.
Ms. Morin also explains that it is the weather that will determine SOPFEU’s strategies in the coming days.
“Right now, she explains, there are 75 people on site for shore operations, but the ability to intervene is limited because the fires are so aggressive that it’s dangerous.”
With the Canadian Press