Crews making progress against Quebec forest fires
By Marianne White, Canwest News Service, May 31, 2010 [here]
Firefighters made progress Monday in their battle against major forest fires surrounding the native reserve of Wemotaci in central Quebec as winds blew thick smoke hundreds of kilometres away over Montreal and Ottawa.
The province’s forest fire protection agency said 43 forest fires were raging across the province by early evening Monday, and seven were considered out of control.
The overall situation has improved over the weekend, it said, but firefighters were concerned about Wemotaci, one of the hottest spots in the province.
A fire near the reserve — which was evacuated last week — grew vigorously Sunday and firefighters were forced to retreat because the smoke was too dense.
The agency said its teams were able to return to Wemotaci Monday morning to battle the flames surrounding the reserve.
Agency spokesman Marcel Trudel, who said Monday morning they were facing a “real monster,” had more positive news at the end of the day.
“We are going to be able to control it, eventually,” he said of the fire. “We didn’t see any blazing fire (Monday).”
He noted the winds have shifted and died down, lending a hand to the firefighters. The agency was also hoping light rain forecast for the region Monday night would provide relief.
The majority of the fires are burning near Wemotaci and La Tuque, about 300 kilometres northeast of Montreal.
So far, 109,500 hectares [270,575 acres or ~425 square miles] have been scorched. To put it in perspective, one of the largest fires currently burning in La Domaine du Roy near La Tuque, is 39,000 hectares, or 80 per cent of the size of the island of Montreal.
In the aboriginal community of Manouane, 900 residents were allowed back home Monday but 300 were kept out of the town, including pregnant women and people with respiratory ailments. … [more]