A plume of smoke has been visible since Friday around the village of Normetal.
The relentless fight continues in Abitibi-Ouest. The forest fire located near Normal is not under control. Wildland firefighters on the ground, watering with air tankers and helicopters kept the pressure on all day Tuesday.
The blaze demonstrated a very aggressive behavior towards the south. We were able to continue working all day. For the moment, the fire is really on the doorstep of Normétal, describes Mélanie Morin, spokesperson for the Society for the Protection of Forests against Fire.
This same fire is located about four kilometers from Saint-Lambert. Due to the winds, the fire can go in different directions, recalled Mélanie Morin.
She confirms that this single fire threatens the municipalities of Abitibi-Ouest and that plumes from fires in Ontario may be visible from Abitibi-Ouest.
A forest fire is being fought in the Normetal sector, in Abitibi-Ouest, and a fire is raging on the side of Ontario.
It's not going well at all, said the mayoress of Saint-Lambert, Diane Provost to It's worth the return.
Normétal having already been evacuated on Saturday, the approximately 200 citizens of Saint-Lambert also had to relocate to campsites, in the family and on the side of La Sarre.
She reported the anger of some citizens who feel that they have not had time to prepare for evacuation despite the pre-alert level that had previously been decreed.
“You never think it can happen fast like that.
— Diane Provost
In the Lac Daiguisier sector, in Rapide-Danseur, preventive evacuation was recommended. The municipalities of La Reine and Clerval have in turn declared a state of emergency.
Elected officials and citizens are trying to keep themselves informed on the situation of the fires forest. The smoke is very present on the territory. It does not seem to have progressed overnight, said Normand Lagrange, director general of the MRC d'Abitibi-Ouest.
Public Security Minister François Bonnardel gave an update Tuesday in Val-d'Or on forest fires.
The Minister of Public Security, François Bonnardel announced the arrival of reinforcements in Abitibi-Témiscamingue.
Teams of SOPFEU also went to two new lights in the Destor area of Rouyn-Noranda near Route 101.
Several people who had left Chibougamau on Tuesday evening went to the Benoît-Lévesque Sports Center in Roberval.
North of Chibougamau, a fire burned more than 50,000 hectares. The fire was 20 kilometers from the municipality, but was heading towards the urban core, which forced the authorities to order the evacuation. The citizens of Oujé-Bougoumou were also forced to leave their homes.
Tuesday evening, two fires were fought in Lebel-sur-Quévillon. Mélanie Morin confirms that a forest fire crossed Route 113, but still some distance from Lebel-sur-Quévillon.
Roads are closed to traffic in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and in Nord-du-Québec. Barriers, cones and signs warn motorists not to go near fires and SOPFEU operations. >, Sarah Bensadoun, spokesperson for the Quebec Ministry of Transport, indicated that route 117 in the La Vérendrye wildlife reserve is under surveillance.
We have tank trucks that are positioned in one of our service centers in Maniwaki. They are mobilized and can be deployed to be able to secure the road in the wildlife reserve area in the Outaouais or in the Abitibi section, she says.
Roads are closed in both directions for an indefinite period.
- Route 113, between Waswanipi and Senneterre
- Route 1005, between Matagami and Lebel-sur-Quévillon and Route du North
- Route Billy-Diamond in Matagami
- Route du Nord in the Chibougamau sector
- Route des 6e-et-7e Rangs in Saint-Lambert in Abitibi -Ouest
- Traffic alternates on Route 101 near Chemin de l'Esker in the Rouyn-Noranda sector
Sarah Bensadoun recommends consulting Québec 511 to check the condition of the road network before traveling.
You must also drive with great caution because because of forest fires, it can cause impromptu movements of large wildlife and it could also cause damage to road users , she recalls.
