Quebec lifts ban on open fires in forests entirely

Quebec's open fire ban ended on June 13, 2026. (Pexels)

Quebec’s Ministry of Domestic Security announced on Saturday that it had lifted the ban on open fires in or near forests throughout the province.

The decision took effect at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

The ministry stated that the decision was made in collaboration with SOPFEU.

On June 9, the ministry banned open fires in or near forests due to the conditions prevailing at the time.

On Thursday, SOPFEU reported that the fire danger remained “high” to “extreme” in several areas of Quebec. However, it added that changes in weather conditions should help improve the situation.

On Saturday, it noted that the low-pressure system remained nearly stationary and continued to affect the province with showers and thunderstorms, mainly over western and central Quebec in the afternoon.

Since the start of the fire season, SOPFEU has reported 202 fires affecting 194 hectares. The 10-year average for this time of year is 241 fires covering 108,164 hectares of burned forest.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 13, 2026.