Rainfall inadequate to douse northern Quebec wildfires

MONTREAL – Quebec officials say the rainfall over the past 24 hours in the northern part of the province was inadequate to douse the wildfires.

The province’s forest fire prevention agency – SOPFEU – says a wildfire near Lebel-sur-Quevillon, Que., continues to threaten the community located 620 kilometres northwest of Montreal.

Less than one millimetre of rain fell around the evacuated town – officials say at least 20 mm of precipitation is needed to snuff out the fire.

Fire agency official Sylvain Tremblay told reporters today that sufficient rainfall isn’t expected before temperatures rise again by the end of the week.

Tremblay says there are about 130 active fires across the province with 35 considered out of control.

Civil security official Jean Savard says 2,800 Quebecers – including roughly 2,000 from Lebel-sur-Quevillon – remain evacuated.

Feature image: Quebec Premier Francois Legault speaks to officials while forest fires are raging as he visits the crisis operation centre in Quebec City, Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Quebec Public Security Minister Francois Bonnardel, left, looks on. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot