Nearly 200 wildfires burn across northwestern Quebec as province awaits help from U.S. and France

Wildfires in the northwestern part of Quebec. (Quebec forest fire prevention agency)

Firefighters from the U.S. and France will aid local crews in Quebec with the wildfires raging in the northwestern part of the province.

The Quebec forest fire prevention agency (SOPFEU) told CTV News there are currently 200 wildfires burning in the province, and approximately 20-40 are being fought.

They say 1,000 fire personnel have been deployed to those wildfires and have been working for approximately a month.

“That’s why we ask for help to have more firefighters helping us,” a media spokesperson for SOPFEU told CTV News.

“We already have people from New Brunswick, Alberta, and Prince Edward Island, and the next firefighters that will come to help us will be from the United States and from France.”

According to SOPFEU, 18 American forest firefighters arrived on Friday.

In addition, 42 French firefighters and one crew leader from the International Union of Wildland Firefighters (UISF) will arrive in the province on Saturday.

“Many of these fires are burning deep underground, which makes them take longer to extinguish,” the agency said.

“The arrival of these skilled and experienced firefighters will enable SOPFEU to handle this significant increase in workload.”

In an average year, the provincial average for fires in northern Quebec is 50, making the current numbers alarming.

There is currently an open fire ban in the following regions:

• North of Quebec
• Lanaudiere
• Laurentians
• Mauricie
• Outaouais
• Abitibi-Tamiscamingue
• Cote-Nord

According to the agency, the fire danger will generally be low to moderate across much of Quebec based on this weekend’s forecast.

“Given this situation, we cannot afford to have preventable fires caused by human activity added to the list,” the agency said.

“Even though the fire danger is currently lower in several regions, every response mobilizes resources that might be needed elsewhere, where the situation remains critical.”

Montreal Public Health said on Friday that poor air quality is probable on the weekend due to the wildfires.