The hot and dry weather of the past few days in northern Quebec has given new vigor to the fires that are ravaging this region over hundreds of thousands of hectares. An indigenous reservation, located far in the North, began to evacuate its 3,000 inhabitants.
With our correspondent in Quebec, Pascale Guericolas
The inhabitants of the Cree Nation of Mistissini, located far north of Quebec, have been living near a gigantic forest fire for several weeks, but the smoke could become too thick very soon. This is why the authorities finally asked the 3,000 inhabitants to leave the locality in the next few hours. One of the managers details the procedure to follow on social networks: “ We have time to evacuate. We take the time to do it so as not to be in a hurry. Please evacuate carefully “, he explains.
Residents of Mistissini are expected in a town five hours away from their home. This is not the only locality affected. The 2,000 residents of Lebel-sur-Quévillon had to pack their bags for a second time yesterday, after having evacuated their town for two weeks.
Lack of water
The 360,000-hectare fire is once again threatening this forest city, as are four other villages in Abitibi, northwest of Montreal. Their inhabitants stand ready to leave. The exceptional lack of rain in this region and the heat make the forest extremely flammable and complicate the work of the teams in the field. Fireworks are also prohibited north of the St. Lawrence for Saint-Jean, Quebec’s national holiday.
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