Wildfires and Smoke in Quebec, Canada
Wildfires and Smoke in Quebec and Ontario
16 June 2006
Latest Terra image:
This multispectral combined image was taken on 16 June2006 and shows numerous outbreaks of large wildfires releasing smoke into the atmosphere inQuebec and Ontario, Canada.
(source: OSEI)
During the afternoon of 16 June, thunderstorms and high velocitywinds swept across Quebec. The storm lit several new forest fires and re-ignitedothers. Near the Cree community of Mistissini, a forest fire that had beenbrought under control re-ignited and, despite of the intervention of waterbombers, progressed considerably, threatening the community. There were fairlyviolent winds at the end of the day (Friday). The fire in question wastransported a good distance very quickly.
Residents of the Cree reserve were evacuated from their homesfor the second time in only a few weeks, as a forest fire once again threatenedthe community. More than 3,000 residents were evacuated, most of them toemergency shelters set up in schools and an arena in the neighbouring communityof Chibougamau, 90 kilometres southwest of the community.
The Red Cross, provincial police and provincial and federal emergency officialsevacuated residents Friday evening and the highway into the community was closed.Firefighters were working tirelessly to battle the blaze but the heavy windswere not helping. Residents of Mistissini, located 750 kilometres north ofMontreal, were evacuated 7 June as three separate forest fires threatened thecommunity. They returned two days later, after firefighters, with a little helpin the form of rain, brought the blazes under control.
There have been 339 forest fires in Quebec so far this summer, destroying 5,900hectares of forest. Several fires were burning after Friday’s thunderstorm.Although no other communities were in danger, smoke permeated the region andauthorities advised residents to try to limit their expose and avoid intenseoutdoor physical activity.
Progress made on massive Nipigon fire, Ontario
A massive forest fire in the northern reaches of the Nipigon District is still not under control, but enough progress was made by firefighting crewson 16 June to allow residents evacuated from a First Nations community near the fire to returnhome. Nipigon Fire 20, which is now approximately 800 hectares in size, is completely surrounded by hose lines as a number of Ministry of Natural Resources Fire Ranger crews continue to work on containing thewildfire. The MNR currently has a total of 33 fire crews, six helicopters and one Twin Otter waterbomber working on theblaze.
The fire began last weekend and is located approximately 10 km northeast of Eabametoong (formerly called Fort Hope), a small First Nations community about 320 km northeast of Thunder Bay.Currently the fire is smoldering and creeping on the fire crews, who are focusing primarily on the west end of the blaze closest to theEabametoong. However, the MNR is predicting more intense fire behaviour when the forecasted winds pick up.
On Wednesday, after consultation with Eabametoong chief Charlie Okeese, the decision was made to return community members home the children and the elderly who had been evacuated earlier this week due to concerns about thick smoke that was entering thecommunity. This move came due to the success of the firefighters in containing the fire as it no longer poses an immediate threat to the community, and the smoke hasdissipated.
Meanwhile, there was one new fire reported in the Kenora District on Wednesday. Kenora Fire 36 was a lightning-caused fire about 15 km northeast of Nestor Falls.The small 0.2-hectare fire was discovered by a Fire Ranger crew from the Fort Frances District on helicopter patrol Wednesday morning and was put out by the evening.
For background information on the Fire Situation in Canada see:
- Forest Fire Monitoring and Early Warning
- Canadian Wildland Fire Information System (CWFIS)
- Previous fire events
- IFFN country reports
